COVID-19 news from across the nation

Addressing a webinar organised by the FICCI FLO, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday said healthcare workers and people aged above 65 will be early recipients when a vaccine becomes available. Meanwhile, Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilisers, Sadananda Gowda, has tested positive for Covid-19.

Hyderabad: Noting that it is natural to prioritise COVID-19 vaccine distribution, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday said healthcare workers and people aged above 65 will be early recipients when a vaccine becomes available.

Addressing a webinar organised by the FICCI FLO on 'The Shifting Healthcare Paradigm During and Post-Covid', Vardhan said COVID-19 vaccine will be available in the next few months and it is estimated that by July-August 400-500 million doses will be made available for 25-30 crore people.

COVID-19 cases in India

"It is natural the vaccine distribution would have to be prioritised. As you know the healthcare workers who are corona warriors they will be prioritised, then people who are above 65 years of age they have been prioritised, then those from 50-65 years of age have been prioritised," he said.

India's COVID-19 caseload rose to 89.58 lakh with fresh 45,576 infections, while the number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to over 83.83 lakh pushing the national recovery rate to 93.58 per cent, according to data updated by the Union Health Ministry on Thursday.

The total coronavirus cases mounted to 89,58,483, with 45,576 infections being reported in a day while the death toll climbed to 1,31,578 with 585 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a cumulative total of 12,85,08,389 samples have been tested up to November 18, of which 10,28,203 samples were tested on Wednesday.

Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilisers, Sadananda Gowda, has tested positive for Covid-19, the minister informed via social media on Thursday.

"After initial symptoms of Covid-19, I got myself tested and the report came positive. I have isolated myself. I request everyone who has come in my contact to be careful and follow the protocol. Stay safe," he tweeted.

• Punjab

Sixteen more fatalities due to COVID-19 in Punjab pushed the death toll to 4,556, while 792 new cases took the infection tally to 1,44,177 on Thursday, according to a medical bulletin.

There are 6,194 active COVID-19 cases in the state as of now, the bulletin said.

The places which reported new coronavirus cases to include Mohali (135), Jalandhar (122) and Ludhiana (108).

• Jammu and Kashmir

The COVID-19 tally in Jammu and Kashmir rose to 1,04,715 on Thursday with 560 new cases, while five more fatalities pushed the death toll to 1,618, officials said.

Out of the 560 fresh cases, 247 were reported from Jammu division and 313 from Kashmir division, they said.

Srinagar district recorded a maximum of 130 cases, followed by 95 in Jammu.

• West Bengal

The COVID-19 death toll in West Bengal mounted to 7,873 on Thursday after 53 more people succumbed to the disease, the health department said in a bulletin.

The tally also went up to 4,45,505 after 3,620 fresh cases of infection were reported from different parts of the state, it said.

• Ladakh

Ladakh has reported 60 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the infection tally to 7,623, while 66 patients have recovered from the disease during the past 24 hours, officials said on Thursday.

A total of 94 people have died due to COVID-19 in the twin districts of Leh and Kargil.

While 54 deaths had taken place in Leh, 40 others succumbed to the virus in Kargil since the outbreak of the pandemic, the officials said.

• Gujarat

Gujarat registered 1,340 fresh cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours, taking its tally to 1,92,982 on Thursday, the state Health Department said.

The death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 3,830 as seven more patients succumbed to the infection during the same period, said a release by the Health Department.

Also, 1,113 patients recovered during the day and discharged from hospitals, it said.