INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The total coronavirus cases in the country mounted to 47,54,356, while the toll climbed to 78,586 with 1,114 people
succumbing to the infection, said the health ministry.
As India's COVID-19 case count soared to over 47 lakh with 94,372 new
infections reported in 24 hours, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan on Sunday said a vaccine against the infection could likely be ready by
those who need it the most, irrespective of their capacity to pay.Seeking to allay fears over the safety of such a vaccine, Vardhan said he
would be happy to take the first dose if people had any "trust deficit".Vardhan stated the government is taking full precautions in human
trials of vaccines and the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 under the Chairmanship of Dr VK Paul, Member
(Health), NITI Aayog, is drawing up a detailed strategy on how to immunize the majority of the population.The Centre has directed all states
quoted the minister as saying.Free coverage up to Rs 5 lakh for COVID-19 patients for those who are eligible under the Ayushman Bharat PMJAY
package was announced, the statement noted.Vardhan's remarks came on a day when Karnataka, Uttarakhand, and Punjab recorded record highs in
infection.The total coronavirus cases in the country on Sunday mounted to 47,54,356, while the toll climbed to 78,586 with 1,114 people
succumbing to the infection in a span of 24 hours, according to the health ministry's data updated at 8 am.But the COVID-19 case fatality
rate due to the coronavirus infection has further dropped to 1.65 percent, it said.The recovery rate rose to 77.88 percent, with a total of
have recovered from COVID-19
Calling for a holistic approach for follow up care and well-being of all post-COVID recovered patients, the health ministry said such
patients must continue COVID appropriate behaviour, including use of masks, hand and respiratory hygiene, and physical distancing.At the
individual level, the protocol suggested drinking adequate amount of warm water (if not contra-indicated), taking immunity promoting AYUSH
medicine prescribed by a qualified practitioner of AYUSH and to carry out household chores if health permits
It advised people to resume professional work in a graded manner.Daily practice of yogasana, pranayama and meditation, as much as health
permits or as prescribed, breathing exercises as prescribed by treating physician and daily morning or evening walk at a comfortable pace as
tolerated were among other measures.The protocol also called for self-health monitoring at home of temperature, blood pressure, blood sugar
(especially, if diabetic), pulse oximetry etc (if medically advised).However, the procedure is not meant to be seen as preventive or as a
curative therapy, the ministry stressed
It also cautioned that the recovery period is likely to be longer for patients who suffered from a more severe form of the disease and for
those with pre-existing illness.Raghuvansh Prasad Singh passes awayFormer Union minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh died on Sunday morning
He was 74.Singh, who had recently resigned from RJD, had fallen ill after developing post-COVID-19 complications
His conditioned worsened on Friday night and he was put on ventilator in the ICU.Singh became breathless and developed other complications
before breathing his last at 11 am, Kedar Yadav, a close associate of Singh told news agency PTI.Uttarakhand, Karnataka see record
single-day spike of 9,894 new COVID-19 cases and 104 related fatalities, taking the total number of infections to 4,59,445 and the toll to
7,265, the state health department said
The day also saw 8,402 patients getting dischargedafter recovery.Of 9,894 fresh cases reported on Sunday, 3,479 cases were from Bengaluru
urban alone.Punjab too reported the highest single-day spike of 2,628 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the infection tally to 79,679 in the
cases while the cumulative toll reached 29,531 with 416 deaths.With inputs from PTI
