Coronavirus (Covid-19) India Live News Updates: The third phase of India’s Covid-19 vaccination drive begins Thursday, with everyone above the age of 45 eligible for the shot.
As India launched the third phase of Covid-19 vaccination on Thursday, the government said the inoculation drive will be conducted on all days of April, including gazetted holidays, and at all public and private centres. The third phase, under which everyone above the age of 45 is eligible to receive the shot, covers the population which is at the highest risk — 90 per cent of deaths related to the disease in India have been in the category of those above the age of 45.
India reported over 72,000 Covid-19 cases in the 24 hours ending 9 am on Thursday, the highest daily spike since October 11, 2020. Of the 72,330 new infections, 39,544 were from Maharashtra. Chhattisgarh recorded its highest ever count on Wednesday with 4,563 cases, while Karnataka also reported over 4,000 cases.
Meanwhile, 459 deaths were reported from across the country, the highest since December 5, 2020. Apart from Maharashtra, which reported 243 deaths, Punjab (55), Chhattisgarh (39), Karnataka (26) and Tamil Nadu (19) were the other big contributors. At least 14 states reported zero deaths on Wednesday.
India’s caseload is now over 1 crore and 22 lakh while there are more than 1.62 lakh fatalities.
Now, as state governments begin imposing restrictions, mobility indicators predict a potential dent the uptick in business activity, especially in the services sector. While Maharashtra has imposed localised restrictions for public places like restaurants, gardens, parks, malls and beaches, states like Chhattisgarh and Gujarat have imposed night curfews, and Uttarakhand and Gujarat have made Covid-19 testing mandatory for those entering the regions from outside.
72,330 new infections, 39,544 from Maharashtra; third phase of vaccination drive begins today, all above 45 eligible; six states, Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, account for nearly 80% of India’s Covid-19 cases