Consistent Decline in Cases; Testing Ramped Up, Says Govt

NITI Aayog Member VK Paul said 13 states had requested for centralised procurement of the vaccination drive by the government, in the last one month.

Meanwhile, with active COVID-19 cases below the 600-mark in all 75 districts of the state, the Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday decided to give relaxations in the coronavirus curfew. “There will be relaxation in coronavirus curfew in all the districts of the state from Wednesday onwards, from 7 am to 7 pm, for five days as the active Covid cases have come below 600,” an official spokesman said. The night curfew from 7 pm to 7 am and weekend curfew (for entire day) will, however, continue in all the districts, he said. In a high-level meeting convened through virtual medium on Tuesday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reviewed the COVID-19 situation and decided to give the relaxations in the Covid curfew.

India reported less than one lakh new coronavirus infections after a gap of 63 days, while the daily positivity rate dropped to 4.62 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday. A single day rise of 86,498 cases were registered, the lowest in 66 days, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 2,89,96,473, The COVID-19 death toll climbed to 3,51,309 with 2,123 daily deaths, the lowest in around 47 days, the data updated at 8 am showed. A total of 81,466 new cases were recorded in a span of 24 hours on April 2. Also, 18,73,485 tests were conducted on Monday taking the total cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of COVID-19 in the country to 36,82,07,596. The daily positivity rate has dropped to 4.62 per cent . It has been less than 10 per cent for 15 consecutive days, the ministry said.

Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Monday address, private hospitals are divided on Rs 150 cap on Covid-19 vaccine administration charges by the central government. Apollo Hospitals, India largest hospital chain, said that the Rs 150 cap on Covid-19 vaccine administration charges doesn’t make any difference to their vaccination programme. On the other hand Fortis Healthcare said that capping of service charge at Rs 150 will not cover additional costs.

“Unfortunately, the cap of service charge at Rs. 150 will not cover the additional costs incurred for such offsite vaccination camps which involve substantial costs like Ambulance, transport, extra staff and doctor, plus TDS involved in many cases. We urge the govt to consider a higher charge for off-site vaccination camps to enable expanded coverage,” Fortis said in a statement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced that the central government will provide free coronavirus vaccine to states for inoculation of all above the age of 18 from June 21, and asserted that vaccine supply would be increased significantly in the country in coming days. “The Government of India itself will buy 75% of the total vaccine production from vaccine manufacturers and give it free to the state governments,” PM Modi announced.

India may raise spending on vaccine by over a quarter this fiscal year to up to Rs 45,000 crore from its budgeted amount, two government sources told Reuters. The sources, who did not want to be named as they were not authorised to speak with the media, said the government would spend up to Rs 45,000 Crore on Covid-19 vaccines this fiscal year, which started on April 1. The previously budgeted amount was Rs 35,000 Crore.

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