India recorded over 1.96 lakh new covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours ending 8 am Tuesday, taking the country’s total infections to over 2.69 crore.

The daily spike in new cases have fallen below 2 lakh after a month. Out of these, over 25 lakh are active cases while over 2.40 crore people have recovered after testing positive. With 3,511 news deaths, the toll is now at 3,07,231.

India’s death toll crossed 3 lakh on Monday, with nearly 50 per cent of fatalities accounting after the second wave hit the country. Over 1.4 lakh deaths have been reported in the seven weeks after March. With this, the country now accounts for 16% of the global confirmed cases, and 9% of global deaths.

Amid a shortage in the supply of coronavirus jabs, the states have started demanding, in chorus, that the Centre import and distribute vaccines across the country. This comes as global manufacturers like Moderna and Pfizer told states that they will only deal directly with the union government.

The health ministry on Monday reiterated that over 1.80 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses are still available with the states and UTs and they will receive over 48 lakh doses in the next three days. The Centre has so far provided, both through the free of cost category and through direct state procurement category, more than 21.80 crore vaccine doses to states.

Meanwhile, Sputnik V vaccine was launched in India on Monday by the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and Indian drug firm Panacea Biotec. Panacea Biotec will now produce 100 million doses of Sputnik V per year. Full-scale production of the vaccine is expected to start this summer, RDIF and Panacea Biotec said in a joint statement.

Source: The Indian Express

BDST: 1224 HRS, MAY 25, 2021
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