New Delhi: India reports 16,946 fresh cases of coronavirus which pushed the total tally to 1,05,12,093 in the nation. The active cases now stand at 2,13,603. With 17,652 new recoveries, as far as 1,01,46,763 patients recovered, and with 198 new deaths in the last 24 hours, the death toll has risen to 1,51,727, as per Union Health Ministry.
As per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the total number of samples tested up to 15 January is 18,42,32, 305 including 7,43,191 samples tested yesterday.
As per Union Health and Welfare Ministry, the infection (Active) rate is 2.03 percent, the recovery rate has reached 96.52 percent and the death rate is 1.44 percent.
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has said that the total number of persons found infected with the mutant United Kingdom (UK) strain of COVID-19 is 109.
Amid the controversy surrounding the efficiency of both vaccines, Dr. Samiran Panda, head of epidemiology and communicable diseases division, told Mirror Now that both the vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin are safe and immunogenic, and that there shouldn’t be an iota of doubt in people’s minds.
Meanwhile, Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan took to Twitter and wrote, “Two days to go! COVID vaccines are being shipped across the country as we are all set to begin the world’s largest #COVID19 immunization program.”
He further tweeted, “It is mandatory to carry the Photo ID used at the time of #COVIDVaccine registration to the #COVID19 vaccination site to get the vaccine. There will be no provision for on-the-spot #COVIDVaccine registration at the session sites. Only pre-registered #COVID19 vaccine beneficiaries will be vaccinated as per their allotted date, time & schedule.”