No vaccinations over weekend as states gear up for 2nd phase
Around 10,000 private hospitals under Ayushman Bharat PMJAY and more than 600 private hospitals under the Central Government Health Scheme will be utilised in the second phase while other private hospitals empanelled under State Govts. Health Insurance Scheme can also participate as COVID-19 Vaccination Centres (CVCs).
As part of the first phase which started on January 16, 1,43,01,266 vaccine doses have been administered through 2,92,312 sessions. These include 66,69,985 HCWs (first dose), 24,56,191 HCWs (second dose) and 51,75,090 FLWs (first dose), as per health ministry data as of February 28 morning.
Meanwhile, six states – Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat- continue to report a surge in new cases in the last 24 hours, accounting for 86.37% of the new cases.
16,752 new cases were registered in the last 24 hours. Maharashtra continues to report the highest daily new cases at 8,623. It is followed by Kerala with 3,792 while Punjab reported 593 new cases.