Coronavirus News LIVE Updates: India reported less than one lakh new coronavirus infections after a gap of 63 days, while the daily positivity rate dropped to 4.62 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday. A single day rise of 86,498 cases were registered, the lowest in 66 days, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 2,89,96,473, The COVID-19 death toll climbed to 3,51,309 with 2,123 daily deaths, the lowest in around 47 days, the data updated at 8 am showed. A total of 81,466 new cases were recorded in a span of 24 hours on April 2. Also, 18,73,485 tests were conducted on Monday taking the total cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of COVID-19 in the country to 36,82,07,596. The daily positivity rate has dropped to 4.62 per cent . It has been less than 10 per cent for 15 consecutive days, the ministry said.
Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Monday address, private hospitals are divided on Rs 150 cap on Covid-19 vaccine administration charges by the central government. Apollo Hospitals, India largest hospital chain, said that the Rs 150 cap on Covid-19 vaccine administration charges doesn’t make any difference to their vaccination programme. On the other hand Fortis Healthcare said that capping of service charge at Rs 150 will not cover additional costs.
“Unfortunately, the cap of service charge at Rs. 150 will not cover the additional costs incurred for such offsite vaccination camps which involve substantial costs like Ambulance, transport, extra staff and doctor, plus TDS involved in many cases. We urge the govt to consider a higher charge for off-site vaccination camps to enable expanded coverage,” Fortis said in a statement.
