Coronavirus India lockdown Day 187 updates | Sero survey reveals risk in urban slums twice than that in non-slum areas
The worldwide death toll from the coronavirus eclipsed 1 million on Tuesday, nine months into the pandemic, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Monday said the first vaccine for COVID-19 is likely to be available in the first quarter of 2021.
“Research to develop a vaccine is being done expeditiously. There are at least three such viable vaccine candidates (Covishield, Covaxin and ZyCov-D) that are in the phase of clinical trials right now in the country. We’re hopeful that within 1st quarter of 2021 it will be available,” Dr. Vardhan was quoted as saying by the news agency ANI.
You can track coronavirus cases, deaths and testing rates at the national and State levels here. A list of State Helpline numbers is available as well.
National Expert Committee on Vaccine Administration set up: Health Secretary
Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that the Indian government has set up a National Expert Committee on Vaccine Administration, led by Niti Aayog Member (Health) Dr. V.K. Paul.
“I am the Co-chair. It has met five times, its sub-committees have also met about five times. We have calculated the funds required for staggered immunisation on a priority basis, adequate funds are available with the government,” he said.
“There has been a decline of deaths from an average of 1,000 to 776 in the past 24 hours primarily due to the decrease in deaths in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh,” he further informed.