New Delhi [India], December 28 (ANI): A total of 6,358 new COVID-19 cases were reported in India in the last 24 hours, taking the active caseload in the country to 75,456, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday.

According to the Health Ministry, 653 cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus have been reported in the country so far. Out of this, Maharashtra topped the list with 167 cases followed by Delhi with 165 cases, Kerala with 57 cases and Telangana has confirmed 55 cases.

The active cases account for less than 1 percent of total cases and is currently at 0.22 percent, which is the lowest since March 2020.

With the recovery of 6,450 patients in the last 24 hours, the cumulative tally of recovered patients since the beginning of the pandemic has increased to 3,42,43,945.

The current recovery rate at 98.40 percent which is the highest since the beginning of the pandemic. The weekly positivity rate is at 0.64 percent remained less than 1 percent for the last 44 days now, while, the daily positivity rate reported being 0.61 percent. The daily positivity rate has remained below 2 percent for the last 85 days.

The country also reported 293 new fatalities in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 4,80,290. India has so far conducted over 67.41 crore cumulative tests.

The country has so far administered 142.47 crore vaccine doses under Nationwide Vaccination Drive. With the administration of 72,87,547 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage stood at 1,42,46,81,736 crore. (ANI)

COVID vaccination: Children aged 15-18 yrs can register on CoWin from Jan 1

New Delhi [India], December 28 (ANI): Children aged between 15 to 18 years can register online on CoWin from January 1 or can register onsite at the vaccination centers to receive Covaxin shots from January 3, said Union Health Ministry.

“Both walk-in and Online registration (through CoWIN) facilities to be made available for 15-18 years,” as per the Health Ministry.

While, precautionary dose for Health care workers (HCWs), Frontline workers (FLWs), and people of 60+ age group with co-morbidities will be rolled out from January 10, added the health ministry.

Doctor Certificate/Prescription is not required to establish co-morbidity. It has been advised for 60+ persons to consult with their doctors before opting for a precautionary dose.

States have been advised to establish separate dedicated Covid Vaccination Centers for 15-18 Yrs age group; Separate Vaccination team and separate queues for 15-18 age group to be maintained at all other CVCs.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Union Health Ministry said that Children aged between 15 to 18 who are eligible for vaccination from January 3 next year will only be administered doses of the Covaxin COVID-19 vaccine.

According to the Union Health Ministry, dedicated centers can be established for the same.
The sources further said that the ministry has advised States and Union Territories to train vaccinators for the exercise.

On December 25, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 15-18 years will start from January 3.

Bharat Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin has received approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for emergency use for those between 12-18 years, sources had said. (ANI)