New Delhi (NVI): With 18,645 fresh coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, India’s overall Covid tally has reached 1,04,50,284, as per the latest data available with the Health Ministry.
This also includes 19,299 people who have recovered from the deadly infection and 201 people who have succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours. The overall death toll has risen to 1,50,999.
While total active cases in the country now stand at 2,23,335, total Covid patients who have been discharged after recovering from the infection has risen to 1,00,75,950.
Meanwhile, the COVID-19 vaccination drive in the country will start from January 16 and priority will be given to nearly three crore healthcare and frontline workers.
The announcement came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting yesterday to review the status of COVID-19 in the country.
“On 16th January, India takes a landmark step forward in fighting COVID-19. Starting that day, India’s nation-wide vaccination drive begins. Priority will be given to our brave doctors, healthcare workers, frontline workers including Safai Karamcharis,” PM said in a tweet.
Pertinent to mention here that the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has given authorisation to two coronavirus vaccines — Covishield by Serum Institute of India and Covaxin by Bharat Biotech, so far.
-ARK
