Latest News Live Updates: Over 3.17 Crore COVID-19 Vaccine Doses Administered So Far, Says Health Ministry
Live Updates: “India has crossed an important milestone in its fight against the pandemic,” Ministry said
New Delhi:
In its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, India has crossed an important milestone of administering over 3.17 crore vaccine doses, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday. A total of 3,17,71,661 vaccine doses have been given till Monday 7 pm, according to a provisional report.
These include 74,08,521 healthcare workers (HCWs) who have taken the 1st dose and 43,97,613 HCWs who have taken the 2nd dose, 74,26,479 frontline workers (FLWs) who have been administered the 1st dose and 13,23,527 FLWs who have received the 2nd dose of coronavirus vaccine.
Besides, 16,96,497 beneficiaries aged 45 and above with specific co-morbidities and 95,19,024 beneficiaries aged above 60 have taken the first dose.
“India has crossed an important milestone in its fight against the pandemic. In the world’s largest vaccination programme, the cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 3.17 crore today,” the ministry said.
Meanwhile, the vaccines produced by Oxford University in collaboration with AstraZeneca to protect against COVID-19 are safe and there is no evidence to suggest that the jabs are the cause behind blood clots as reported in some European countries, the British-Swedish pharmaceutical major and the UK’s medicines regulator have said. The interventions come as Germany, France and Italy joined the Netherlands as the latest countries to suspend the use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, which also has a tie-up with the Serum Institute of India, after some reports of blood clotting.
Here are the Latest News Live Updates:
Several major EU countries halted the AstraZeneca jab Monday over blood clot fears, as the World Health Organization and Europe’s medicines watchdog insisted it was safe to use. Both organisations will hold special meetings this week after a host of countries said they would stop using the vaccine pending further review.
Judges, lawyers, teachers and journalists can now get the coronavirus shot in Punjab’s Ludhiana, the district administration said on Monday, widening the vaccination drive to sections not yet cleared by the central government. The decision will also cover workers of banks, NGOs, cooperative societies and food grain societies. Read Here
The Rajasthan government on Monday approved the formation of 17 new municipalities in the state, according to a statement issued.
The statement said the state government will also urge the Supreme court to extend the 50 per cent limit set for reservation in jobs and at educational institutes.
The top cout had recently sought an opinion over the issue from all states.
The decisions were taken during a cabinet meeting at the Chief Minister Ahok Gehlot’s residence.
The Cabinet has approved the proposal for the formation of 17 new municipalities in 12 districts of the state, the statement said, adding that an announcement in this regard was made in the state Budget.
The districts where the municipalities will be formed are Dausa, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Sirohi, Jodhpur, Kota, Sriganganagar, Sawai Madhopur, Baran, Karauli and Dholpur.
The areas for which the municipalities have been proposed are Mandavari, Bassi, Ramgarh, Bansur, Jawal, Bhopalgarh, Lalgarh-Jatan, Ucchain, Sikri, Sarmathura, Basedi, Atru, Paota-Pragpura, Sultanpur, Sapotra, Laxmangarh and Bamanwas.
China Pledges 3,00,000 Coronavirus Vaccine Doses For UN PeacekeepersChina will give United Nations peacekeeping troops 3,00,000 doses of coronavirus vaccine, the Chinese diplomatic mission to the UN said Monday, bolstering the 2,00,000 doses already pledged by India to protect 1,00,000 soldiers and police officers deployed in peace missions. Read Here
With the surge in COVID-19 cases, the Maharashtra government issued an order on Monday directing cinema halls/hotels/restaurants to follow COVID-related rules, and if found violating will remain closed for a period until the COVID-19 pandemic stays notified as a disaster by Central government.
Mumbai on Monday reported 1712 new cases and 4 deaths. WIth 1063 recoveries, the city’s cured tally rises to 3,18,642. Currently, Mumbai has 3,45,659 cases of which 14,582 are active and 11,535 fatalities.
Maharashtra has reported as many as 15,051 fresh COVID-19 cases pushing the total number of cases to 23,29,464, according to the health bulletin.
Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro announced Monday that he will appoint cardiologist Marcelo Queiroga as health minister, the fourth to hold the post during the pandemic, as the country’s health system staggers amid surging Covid-19 cases.
“It was decided now in the afternoon to appoint physician Marcelo Queiroga to the Ministry of Health,” Bolsonaro said in a brief meeting with his supporters at the Alvorada presidential palace. The transition process “should take one or two weeks,” he added.
The appointment will be finalized Tuesday.
Vaccination Based On Profession Discriminatory: Centre In Supreme CourtThe Central government today informed the Supreme Court that prioritising Covid-19 vaccination based on profession will be discriminatory and not in national interest. The Centre was responding to notice based on a public interest litigation (PIL) which wanted judges, lawyers, and other members of legal fraternity be given priority in the inoculation drive. Read Here
Amid a spike in daily COVID-19 cases in the city, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Monday said that till the positivity rate is being recorded below per cent, the coronavirus pandemic situation in the national capital is “well under control”.
Interacting with reporters, he also appealed to “all Delhiites to maintain social distancing and celebrate a dry Holi this year”.
On Sunday, 407 cases were reported and the positivity rate was 0.60 per cent, which is much below the one per cent-mark, he said.
“We are alert but as long as the positivity rate is below 1 per cent, the situation is well under control,” he said.
