India’s rollout of the Covid-19 vaccines in collaboration with leading global institutions has “rescued the world” from the deadly pandemic, said a top American scientist, adding that and the country’s contributions should not be underestimated.
India, called the pharmacy of the world, is one of the world’s biggest drug-makers and a larger number of countries have approached it for procuring Covid-19 vaccines.
Dr Peter Hotez, Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) in Houston, during a recent webinar, “Covid-19: Vaccination and Potential Return to Normalcy—If and When”, said that the Covid-19 vaccine rollout is “India’s gift’” to the world in combating the virus. The webinar was organised by Indo American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston (IACCGH).
“This is something very special and I see it myself because I’m on weekly teleconferences with our colleagues in India, you make a recommendation, and within days it’s done and not only done, but it’s done well and with incredible rigor and thought and creativity,” Dr Hotez said. The scientist further said that he felt compelled to make this statement because “India’s huge efforts in combating global pandemic is a story that’s not really getting out in the world”.
India has provided 56 lakh doses of coronavirus vaccines under grants assistance to a number of countries. The vaccines were sent to Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles.
Speaking at a virtual India-Sweden summit alongside Sweden Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, Prime Minister Modi on Friday said that ‘Made in India’ Covid-19 vaccines have been provided to more than 50 countries. “During the Covid-19 pandemic, on a regional and on a global level, we have understood the importance of collaboration. India has provided medicines and other essential items to over 150 countries. Along with this, with the help of online training programmes, we shared our experiences with frontline workers and lawmakers of Asia, Southeast Asia and Africa,” he emphasised.
In the meantime, India reported 18,327 fresh coronavirus cases and the tally has climbed to 1,11,92,088, while the number of recoveries has surged to 1,08,54,128. The death count due to the viral disease has gone up to 1,57,656 in the country with 108 more fatalities reported in a 24-hour period. The cumulative number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in India has crossed 2 crore, the Union Health Ministry said.
Maharashtra continued to report over 10,000 daily novel coronavirus cases after breaching 22 lakh-mark in total positive cases since the pandemic hit the state. The worst-hit state in terms of total Covid-19 cases recorded more than 11,000 infections in last 24 hours, the highest in nearly five months. With 11,141 new Covid-19 cases in the state, the total virus infections reached 22,19,727. Along with that, 38 virus-related deaths in the last 24 hours took the state’s toll to 52,478. Case fatality rate stands at 2.36%. Moreover, the state recorded 6,013 recoveries, bringing the total number to 20,68,044, while active cases stood at 97,983. The recovery rate stands at 93.1%
The national capital recorded 286 new Covid-19 cases and two deaths in last twenty-four hours, while the number of tests rose to over 91,000, the highest so far amid a sudden surge in incidences. The positivity rate stood at 0.31 per cent.
Meanwhile, Eight more people died from coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh as 117 fresh cases pushed the total number of infections in the state to 6,04,279. So far, the infection has claimed 8,737 lives in the state.
Gujarat’s coronavirus tally rose to 2,73,386 with the addition of 575 cases. As 459 patients got discharge from hospitals during the day, the recovery count mounted to 2,65,831.
Seventeen more people died from coronavirus in Punjab as 1,051 fresh cases surfaced, pushing the state’s infection count to 188,391. So far, the disease has claimed 5,927 lives in the state. The number of active cases also increased from 7,164.
Southern state of Tamil Nadu saw its daily tally of new Covid-19 infections continue to show an upward trend after crossing the 500 mark once again, with 567 people testing positive for the virus, pushing the numbers to 8,55,121 while one death took the toll to 12,518. Recoveries, which were outnumbering new infections, saw a dip with 521 people getting discharged taking the cumulative number to 8,38,606 leaving 3,997 active cases in the state.
Kerala recorded 2,100 new Covid-19 cases and 13 related deaths taking the total affected in the state to 10.77 lakh and the toll to 4,300.
Andhra Pradesh reported 136 new coronavirus infections, taking the state’s tally to 8,90,692. The death toll after one new fatality stands at 7,174.
WITH AGENCY INPUTS