Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday lauded citizens for coming together in the fight against COVID-19, and said India has administered a record 200 crore vaccine doses in a time-bound manner, a feat that would not have been possible for another nation. During his Independence Day address from the ramparts of Red Fort, Modi said there was an increase in common consciousness of love for the nation of late.
Meanwhile with 14,917 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, India’s case tally rose to 4,42,68,381, while the active cases have increased to 1,17,508, according to data
updated by the Union Health Ministry on Monday. The death toll has climbed to 5,27,069 with 32 fatalities, the data stated. In the latest figure, Kerala has reconciled four earlier fatalities.
The daily positivity rate was recorded at 7.52 per cent. The weekly positivity rate was recorded at 4.65 per cent, according to the ministry.
“COVID-19 has been an example of this common consciousness where citizens came together. From supporting doctors to propelling research to taking vaccines to the remotest parts, we stood together. The country’s citizens stood shoulder to shoulder with ‘corona warriors’ with gestures such as clanging thalis, clapping and lighting diyas,” PM Modi said in his speech.
He asserted that people from every nook and corner of the country also participated in the ‘Janta Curfew’ and this was indicative of a feeling of consciousness.
Lauding citizens for leading the way in taking vaccines, he added, “During the Covid period, when there was confusion prevailing in the world on whether to take vaccines or not or whether the vaccines
were useful or not, even the poor people of my country’s villages surprised the world with the administration of 200 crore vaccine doses. This is consciousness, this is potential, which has given new strength to the country today.”
The prime minister stressed that when the world was in a dilemma, India crossed the target of 200 crore vaccinations in a time-bound manner and broke all previous records.
“We broke all previous records by administering 200 crore vaccine doses in a time-bound manner. Can any other nation do this,” he asked.
The prime minister’s speech also highlighted India’s legacy of holistic healthcare and yoga that is proving to be beneficial for the entire world. “When there is a discussion on holistic healthcare globally, everyone looks at India’s yoga and Ayurveda and holistic style. This is our legacy that we are providing the world with. The world is being influenced by it today,” he said.
The active cases account for 0.27 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.54 per cent, the ministry said.
An increase of 647 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged
to 4,36,23,804, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry, 208.25 crore doses of Covid vaccines have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.
India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020; 30 lakh on August 23; 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28; 70 lakh on October 11; 80 lakh on October 29; and 90 lakh on November 20. It surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. India crossed the grim milestone of two crore cases on May 4, three crore on June 23 last year and four crore on January 25 this year. The 28 new fatalities included five from Delhi, three each from Karnataka and Maharashtra and two each from Chhattisgarh, Nagaland,
Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal and one each from Assam, Chandigarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Odisha and Uttarakhand.
