The Centre mentioned on Wednesday that 146 districts have reported a positivity charge of over 15 per cent and are a “cause of concern”, whereas 274 districts have reported 5-15 per cent case positivity.
It additionally launched information which confirmed that post-vaccination, solely “2-4 persons per 10,000” had examined constructive.
A complete of two,95,041 new instances and a pair of,023 deaths had been reported within the final 24 hours. The variety of energetic instances has now crossed the 21-lakh mark, whereas the demise toll has touched 1,82,553.
“These 146 districts are a cause of concern. We have held detailed discussions with the 146 districts on efforts that have to be undertaken to control the spread of infection. These are the districts where the maximum number of cases are coming and the health system is facing the strain of new cases,” Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan mentioned.
Bhushan mentioned for the following section of vaccination, which begins May 1, the Centre will inform the states 15 days upfront in regards to the doses it is going to obtain. He mentioned the vaccine costs charged by personal hospitals can be monitored.
“The Centre will inform the states in advance that for the next 15 days they will receive a specific number of doses… They will have a bigger picture as well as granular picture of availability as on date and future availability for the fortnight,” Bhushan mentioned.
“Those above the age of 18 years will be administered vaccine doses that are procured by the states and private hospitals from the open market channel,” he mentioned.
“The two vaccines prevent severe disease and death. These vaccines reduce infection. We know that after vaccination if we get the infection, it is known as breakthrough infection. The data shows that this is a very small number — 2-4 per 10,000… This is because of healthcare workers and frontline workers who were the first to be vaccinated, and they are prone to more occupational exposure,” mentioned DG, ICMR, Dr Balram Bhargava.
“The current highly transmissible second wave may also contribute a little to the post-vaccination breakthrough infection,” Bhargava mentioned.
According to information launched on Wednesday, of the ten.03 crore who acquired the primary dose of Covishield vaccine, 0.02 per cent (17,145) examined constructive; and of the 1.57 crore who acquired each photographs, 0.03 per cent (5,014) examined constructive. For Covaxin, 0.04 per cent (4,208) of the 93.56 lakh who acquired the primary dose examined constructive; and of the 17.37 lakh who acquired each doses, 0.04 per cent (695) examined constructive.
Ten states and Union territories have reported over 40 per cent vaccine protection within the 60-plus age group: Ladakh, Sikkim, Tripura, Chhattisgarh, Lakshwadeep, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Andaman & Nicobar Islands. On a mean, 26.16 per cent on this inhabitants class throughout the nation have acquired the primary dose.
The Centre additionally launched information which confirmed that the prevalence of deaths is nearly the identical as within the first wave, throughout most age teams. According to the information, within the below-10 years age group, 0.27 per cent deaths had been reported within the first wave, and 0.34 per cent within the second wave; for 10-20 years, it was 0.53 per cent and 0.31 per cent; for 20-30 years, it was 2.08 per cent and 1.72 per cent; for 30-40 years, it was 5.27 per cent and 5.39 per cent; for 40-50 years, it was 11.98 per cent and 10.82 per cent; for 50-60 years, it was 23.29 per cent and 21.23 per cent; and for 60-70 years, it was 28.76 per cent and 28.21 per cent.
However, within the age group of 70-80 years (19.99 per cent and 22.17 per cent), and above 80 years (7.82 per cent and 9.81 per cent), extra deaths had been reported within the second wave.
On the oxygen scarcity being reported in a number of components of the nation, the Centre mentioned it had acquired an expression of curiosity for provide of oxygen from totally different overseas firms. “We are evaluating and will soon do an allotment. In normal circumstances, it takes three weeks to despatch oxygen,” Bhushan mentioned.The Centre additionally introduced that it has elevated the amount of medical oxygen provide to Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, UP, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Uttrakhand and Delhi.
Of the 7,500 metric tonnes being generated within the nation, 6,600 metric tonnes are being distributed within the type of medical oxygen to the states, the Centre mentioned.
“Earlier steel plants were in the list of exemptions. However, we have amended this so that only captive steel plants receive oxygen for industrial purposes. The other steel plants have been removed from the list. The additional oxygen will be provided for medical facilities,” Bhushan mentioned.
He reiterated that “private sector hospitals will no longer receive vaccines from the Centre”. “They will have to procure directly from the 50 per cent available in the open market. The prices charged by the private hospitals will be monitored. We will inform about it separately…the stocks and price of the vaccines will be captured on the Co-WIN platform,” he mentioned.
“Free vaccination will be available at all centres which are receiving vaccine doses from the Government of India… On the basis of the doses supplied by the Government of India, those above the age of 45, healthcare workers, frontline workers will be vaccinated,” he mentioned.
