Coronavirus India Live Updates: Everyone above 18 years eligible for vaccine from May 1, says Centre

Coronavirus India Live Updates: Everyone above 18 years of age will be eligible to get vaccinated from May 1, the central government announced on Monday. The announcement was a part of a liberalised and accelerated Phase 3 strategy of COVID-19 vaccination in which all stakeholders are also given the flexibility to customise to local needs. Apart from this, vaccine manufacturers will be incentivised to further scale up their production, as well as attract new national and international players. Vaccine manufacturers will be empowered to release up to 50% of their supply to the state government and in the open market at a pre-declared price.

The Union Health Ministry Monday said Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan are among the 10 states that account for 78.58 per cent of the new Covid-19 cases reported in a day. The other states in the list of 10 are Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

Meanwhile, ICMR Director General Dr. Balram Bhargava Monday said while the requirement of oxygen was found to be more in the second wave of coronavirus, the severity of symptoms is very less this time. “If you see the symptoms, severity is very less this time. In this wave, we have witnessed more cases of breathlessness while in the last wave, symptoms like dry cough, joint pain, headaches were more,” Dr Bhargava said, adding “Higher requirement of oxygen was found in this wave. There is no difference in the per cent of death between the first wave and second wave from the data we have.”

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Monday said a lockdown has been imposed in the city from 10 pm tonight to 6 am next Monday (April 26). The chief minister said the city is facing the fourth wave of Covid-19 and that harsh measures will have to be taken to prevent a collapse of the health system. “Essential services, food services, medical services will continue. Weddings can be held with a gathering of only 50 people, passes will be issued separately for it. A detailed order will be issued shortly,” Kejriwal said.

India reported 2,73,810 new Covid-19 cases and 1,619 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to data from the Union Health Ministry. The total cases in the country now stand at 1,50,61,919. There are 19,29,329 active cases in the country at present while 1,29,53,821 people have recovered from the disease. The death toll is at 1,78, 769. As many as 12,38,52,566 people have been vaccinated so far.