Coronavirus India Live Updates: Over 1 lakh new Covid-19 cases, 2,427 deaths in last 24 hours, says Health Ministry

Coronavirus (Covid-19) Cases and Lockdown in India Live News Updates: The total number of coronavirus cases has now reached 2,89,09,975 while the death toll rose to 3,49,186.

Coronavirus India Live Updates: India reported 1,00,636 new Covid-19 cases and 2,427 deaths on Monday, according to data from the Union Health Ministry.

The total number of coronavirus cases has now reached 2,89,09,975 while the death toll rose to 3,49,186. There are 14,01,609 active cases in the country while as many as 2,71,59,180 people have recovered from the disease. The ministry said a total of 23,27,86,482 people have been vaccinated so far

The Union government is considering reverting to centralised procurement after more and more states asked the Centre to step in as they drew a blank in global tenders to purchase Covid-19 vaccines. On May 1, the Centre expanded vaccine coverage to the 18-44 age group, opened the market, introduced differential pricing and public-private split in supplies. “If all states want the Union government to centrally procure, we will discuss it. We are willing to consider such a request,” a top government source told The Indian Express Sunday.

Meanwhile, amid the rapidly improving coronavirus situation, the 7-day average of death numbers has come down below 3,000 for the first time in six weeks. The average death count has been showing a steady decline after reaching a peak of nearly 4,200 on May 21. On Saturday, this average came down to 2,970. There is usually a two-to-three-week lag between the trajectory of new cases and deaths. The daily case count had peaked on May 6 at 4.14 lakh, after which the numbers have been coming down steadily.

Lockdown restrictions have been eased further in Delhi, where markets will open on an odd-even basis from today. Private offices are also reopening and the Delhi Metro will resume operations with 50 per cent capacity. And bus services are set to resume in Mumbai.

Union govt considering centralised procurement of Covid-19 vaccines, 7-day average deaths drop below 3,000 for first time in 6 weeks; many states ease lockdown curbs. Follow this space for the latest updates.

We keep hearing of a third wave of Covid-19, and that children will be the most vulnerable. Is that a real fear?

Several experts have warned that the third wave is likely to affect more children, as Singapore has already been reporting. One can get immunity either after infection or through vaccination. More adults have been getting infected in both the first and second waves. Vaccination has been approved for use in adults. The absolute number of children affected in the second wave seems more than in the first wave, probably due to overall increased numbers and entire families getting affected.

Are any of the new variants more dangerous for children than for adults?

The new mutations, particularly the B.1.167 variant, have been reported to be affecting younger children in a few countries like Singapore. However, there is no official confirmation at this stage as to how many children have been affected by the new variant in Singapore.

The B.1.1.7 strain is 60% more fatal than the original strain. It is believed that since the immunity of children is better, they are not getting seriously sick even after this mutant virus attack. Read more here

Early last week, a two-day drive-through Covid vaccine camp was held at The Chanakya, a high-end mall in South Delhi. Started by Max Hospital-Saket, it offered Covishield for Rs 1,100, and saw 376 people roll up in their vehicles to get the shot.

Roughly 10 minutes away, at Sanjay Camp in Chanakyapuri, one of Delhi’s largest slums, barely 100 of the 8,000-odd residents have been vaccinated so far, the slum’s pradhan, Ashok Kumar, told The Indian Express.

The two contrasting scenes, around 3 km apart, highlight the gaps in a vaccination strategy skewed towards those with resources and access to private hospitals, drive-through facilities and camps helmed by residents’ associations. More so, with insufficient supply to states stalling the free vaccine programme while doses are available for a price at private hospitals.

India reported 1,00,636 new Covid-19 cases and 2,427 deaths on Monday, according to data from the Union Health Ministry.

The total number of coronavirus cases has now reached 2,89,09,975 while the death toll rose to 3,49,186. There are 14,01,609 active cases in the country while as many as 2,71,59,180 people have recovered from the disease. The ministry said a total of 23,27,86,482 people have been vaccinated so far

At a Covid-19 vaccination centre in Delhi. (Express photo by Praveen Khanna)

As Covid numbers continued to remain at elevated levels in the fortnight ended May 21 and the dependence upon cash rose amid the uncertainty surrounding medical emergency and for general household expenditure, currency with public rose to a new high of Rs 28,62,466 crore.

According to the data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday, currency with public rose by Rs 23,145 crore in the fortnight ended May 21. In the two-month period between March 27 and May 21, as cases rose and stayed at elevated levels, cash holdings with public jumped over Rs 1 lakh crore. As on March 26, 2021, currency with public amounted to Rs 27,57,750 crore.

May witnessed spike in cash holdings as fresh cases and mortality jumped to record highs.

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