The second phase of vaccination covering people over 60 years old and those above 45 years with comorbidities began yesterday

Nearly 1.5 crore people have received the Covid-19 vaccination to date. Out of them, over 25 lakh health care workers have received the second dose of vaccination.

This includes people over 60 years of age and those above 45 years with comorbidities who are being covered under the second phase of the countrywide vaccination drive which began yesterday.

India had rolled out the world’s largest vaccination campaign on January 16, covering Healthcare Workers (HCWs). Vaccinations started on February 2 for Frontline Workers (FLWs). On February 13, those who had completed 28 days since receiving the first dose of the vaccine began receiving the second dose.

“A total of 1,48,55,073 vaccine doses have been administered as per the provisional report till 1 pm today. These include 67,04,856 Healthcare workers (HCW)s who got 1st dose, 25,98, 192 HCWs (2nd dose), and 53,43,219 Frontline workers (FLW)s who got 1st dose. Out of these 2,08, 791 doses have been given to people with comorbidities aged 45-60 years,” said Health secretary Rajesh Bhushan in a media briefing.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first to receive the first dose of Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin yesterday. Several Union Ministers and Chief Ministers also received their first dose along with beneficiaries who are eligible under the second phase of the vaccination drive.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan received his first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine today. After receiving the vaccine, he appealed to all the people who were eligible to come forward for the vaccination.

Recovery rate of 97.07% among highest in the world

Meanwhile, according to the Union Health Ministry, more than 1.07 Cr (1,07,98,921) people have recovered so far. 12,464 patients have recovered and got discharged in the last 24 hours. India’s Recovery Rate at 97.07% continues to be amongst the highest in the world.

Of the new recovered cases, 86.55% are observed to be concentrated in six States.

Maharashtra has reported the maximum number of single-day recoveries with 5,754 newly recovered cases. 3,475 people recovered in Kerala in the past 24 hours followed by 482 in Tamil Nadu.

India’s total Active Caseload stands at 1.68 lakh (1,68,358) as the country added 12,286 new cases in the last 24 hours. The country’s present active caseload now consists of 1.51% of India’s total Positive Cases.

Of the total cases in the last 24 hours, 80.33% of the new cases are from five States.

Maharashtra, Kerala among states reporting high number of cases

Maharashtra continues to report the highest daily new cases at 6,397. It is followed by Kerala with 1,938 while Punjab reported 633 new cases. Two states, Maharashtra and Kerala alone account for 67.84% of total active cases.

“The Centre is continuously engaging with the States and UTs manifesting a higher caseload of active cases and those reporting a rise in the daily new COVID cases. States/UTs have been advised to maintain a continued rigorous vigil for containing the spread of COVID-19. Need for effective testing, comprehensive tracking, prompt isolation of positive cases, and quick quarantine of close contacts are strongly emphasized,” said the Health Ministry in a statement.

Eight states are displaying an upward trajectory in daily new cases.

Five States cumulatively account for 84.16% of the total active cases in the country. Maharashtra alone accounts for 46.82% of India’s total active cases, followed by Kerala with 28.61%.

Six States/UTs have a weekly Positivity Rate higher than the national average of 2.00%. Maharashtra leads all the states with a weekly positivity rate of 10.02%.

Meanwhile, 91 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours.

Six States account for 85.71% of the new deaths. Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties (30). Punjab follows with 18 daily deaths. Kerala reported13 deaths.

Nineteen states/UTs have not reported any COVID19 deaths in the last 24 hours. These are West Bengal, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Lakshadweep, Ladakh (UT), Sikkim, Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Andaman, and Nicobar Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haweli, Daman and Diu and Arunachal Pradesh.