COVID-19 vaccination to happen throughout April, including gazetted holidays
Seeking to exponentially expand the countrywide anti-coronavirus inoculation drive, the Centre has decided to keep all public and private sector COVID-19 Vaccination Centres (CVCs) operational throughout April, including on gazetted holidays. The Centre wrote to all states and union territories on Thursday and asked them to make necessary arrangements for this, the Union Health Ministry said.
Decision taken after deliberations with states and UTs
This step has been taken after detailed deliberations with the states and UTs on March 31 to utilize all COVID-19 Vaccination Centres across the public and private sectors, ensuring rapid increase in coverage of vaccination. "This decision is in line with the graded and pro-active approach employed by the government of India along with the states and UTs for COVID-19 vaccination," the ministry said.
Vaccination has started for everyone over 45 years of age
Vaccination exercise continues to be regularly monitored at the highest level, it highlighted. The government opened up the COVID-19 vaccination drive to include everybody above 45 years of age on April 1 based on a recommendation of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration (NEGVAC).
Countrywide vaccination drive rolled out on January 16
A countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers (HCWs) getting inoculated first, and vaccination of frontline workers (FLWs) that started on February 2. The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced on March 1 to cover people above 60 and those in the age group of 45-59 but with specified co-morbid conditions.
More than 6.5 crore vaccine doses administered across the country
According to the Ministry, more than 6.5 crore (6,51,17,896) vaccine doses have been administered through 10,86,241 sessions across the country so far, as per the provisional report till 7 am.
Highest single-day spike this year recorded on Wednesday
Meanwhile, India saw 72,330 new infections being registered in a span of 24 hours, the highest single-day rise recorded so far this year. Maharashtra has reported the highest daily new cases at 39,544. It is followed by Chhattisgarh with 4,563 while Karnataka reported 4,225 new cases. India's active caseload has reached 5,84,055 and now comprises 4.78 percent of the country's total infections.
Maharashtra accounts for over 61 percent of active caseload
A net rise of 31,489 cases has been recorded in the total active caseload in a span of 24 hours. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, and Punjab cumulatively account for 78.9 percent of the total active cases in the country. Maharashtra alone accounts for more than 61 percent of the active caseload of the country.
