The daily coronavirus positivity rate has dropped significantly, amid the country prepares for the world’s biggest immunization drive. According to latest reports the country has recorded just 16,311 new coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours on Monday that is the lowest one-day figure in over six months.
The country is also observed less than 300 new deaths due to coronavirus since the last 17 days.
Although, 161 deaths were reported in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 1,51,160 in the country, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s report.
About 1,04,66,595 have been infected by the deadly virus, which include 1,00,92,909 recovered cases and 2,22,526 active cases have been recorded so far.
#IndiaFightsCorona#Unite2FightCorona
India has been continuously registering a decline in daily new cases. 16,311 New Cases were recorded in the last 24 hours.https://t.co/jUMBVvHTtI pic.twitter.com/1jYhROq4zL
— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) January 11, 2021
However, the recovery rate stands at 96.43 per cent while the fatality rate is 1.44 as per cent, the news agency said.
The Indian Council of Medical Research said, as of January 10, as many as 18,17,55,831 samples have been tested for Covid-19 in the country, including 6,59,209 samples tested on Sunday.
With 19,69,114 total cases, Maharashtra continues to be the worst-hit state in India. Meanwhile, about 82.25 per cent of the daily new cases are coming from nine states like, Kerala, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Gujarat.
Mass Vaccination Drive From January 16
The centre had earlier announced that most awaited vaccination drive would begin from January 16, with two vaccines Oxford University’s Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin. However, three dry runs have been successfully conducted to test the vaccine delivery system across the country.
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday tweeted, “On 16th January, India takes a landmark step forward in fighting COVID-19. Starting that day, India’s nation-wide vaccination drive begins. Priority will be given to our brave doctors, healthcare workers, frontline workers including Safai Karamcharis.
On 16th January, India takes a landmark step forward in fighting COVID-19. Starting that day, India’s nation-wide vaccination drive begins. Priority will be given to our brave doctors, healthcare workers, frontline workers including Safai Karamcharis. https://t.co/P5Arw64wVt
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 9, 2021
Along with that Modi is holding meeting with the chief ministers of all states and Union territories today to review the pandemic situation in the country and discuss the coronavirus vaccination rollout. The virtual meeting is scheduled at 4 pm. This will be the Prime Minister’s first meeting after Covishield and Covaxin were approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).
The Central government plans to vaccinate nearly 30 crore people in the first phase of the vaccination drive. The first beneficiaries will include one crore healthcare workers, along with two crore frontline and essential workers, 26 crore people above the age of 50 and one crore below 50 with comorbidities.
Vaccination Drive To Be Carried Out In 5,000 Sites Across India
It has been planned that Covid-19 vaccination drive will be carried out in 5,000 sites across India. Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Sunday that they have finalized 89 hospitals in the national capital for the first phase, out of which 40 are government-run, 49 are private.
Jain told a press conference there will be 8-9 people at every centre to handle the vaccination drive.