As COVID-19 cases witness spike, India crosses milestone of over 6 crore vaccine doses

New Delhi: In its fight against COVID19, the country’s total vaccination coverage has surpassed 6 crores. 6,02,69,782 vaccine doses have been administered through 9,85,018 sessions, as per the provisional report on 28th March, 2021.

These include first dose to 81,52,808 healthcare workers (HCWs), 51,75,597 HCWs (2nd dose), first dose to 88,90,046 frontline level workers (FLWs) and 36,52,749 FLWs (2nd Dose), 66,73,662 beneficiaries aged more than 45 years with specific co-morbidities (1st Dose) and 2,77,24,920 beneficiaries aged more than 60 years.

Eight States account for 60% of the cumulative vaccine doses given so far. Each of the eight states has administered more than 30 lakh doses.

As on Day-71 of the vaccination drive (27^th March, 2021), 21,54,170 vaccine doses were given. Of the total, 20,09,805 beneficiaries were vaccinated across 39,778 sessions for 1^st dose and 1,44,365 HCWs and FLWs received 2^nd dose of vaccine.

Seven States of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Punjab, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have reported high number of COVID daily new cases. These states account for 81.46% of the daily new cases registered in the last 24 hours (62,714).

Eight states cumulatively account for 84.74% of the new cases reported in the past 24 hours. Maharashtra has reported the highest daily new cases at 35,726. It is followed by Chhattisgarh with 3,162 while Karnataka reported 2,886 new cases. Ten states are displaying an upward trajectory in daily new cases.

The Union Health Secretary chaired a high-level review meeting yesterday with Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and Secretaries (H&FW) of 12 States and Municipal Commissioners and District Collectors of 46 districts that are the most affected by rising cases and rising mortality because of COVID-19 and suggested a Five-Fold Strategy to curb the tide of new COVID cases. These States are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Punjab and Bihar.

In another significant development, the total tests conducted across India have exceeded 24 crores while the cumulative Positivity Rate continues to remain below 5%. Fifteen States/UTs have lower tests per million than the national average (1,74,602).

The daily positivity rate has increased slightly to over 5% (5.04%). Eight States/UTs have a weekly positivity rate higher than the national average of 5.04%. Maharashtra leads all the states with a weekly positivity rate of 22.78%.

India’s total Active Caseload has reached 4,86,310, comprising 4.06% of the total Positive Cases. A net incline of 33,663 cases recorded from the total active caseload in the last 24 hours.

India’s cumulative recoveries stand at 1,13,23,762. The national Recovery Rate is 94.59%.