Covid deaths increasing in the country; One lakh deaths in 26 days

NEW DELHI: India’s Covid-19 death toll went past the 3-lakh mark on Monday after 4,454 people died due to the virus in the last 24 hours. This makes India only the third country after the United States and Brazil to record more than 3,00,000 fatalities. However, fresh infections dipped to 2,22,315 on Monday, the lowest since April 15. Tamil Nadu continues to be the top contributor with 35,483 new cases. While Maharashtra reported 26,672 cases, Karnataka’s number stood at 25,979.

More than 1.80 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses are still available with the states and UTs and they will receive over 48 lakh doses in the next three days, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday. The Centre has so far provided, both through the free of cost category and through direct state procurement category, more than 21.80 crore vaccine doses to states and UTs. Of this, the total consumption, calculated based on average up to May 23, including wastages is 20,00,08,875 doses the ministry said.

The Bihar government on Monday extended the ongoing lockdown by a week to combat the spread of Covid-19. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar took to Twitter to confirm that the lockdown has been extended.

Earlier, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said all 400 vaccination centres in the national capital have been shut for people in the 18-44 age group owing to a shortage in supply. Besides this, the inoculation drive has also been suspended for people above 45 who are looking for Covaxin, he added.