Delhi has reported 20,201 COVID19 positive cases in the last 24 hours. As many as 380 people have lost their lives to the virus. This is the highest single-day death toll due to the virus. Of the total 20,487 beds, 18,831 are occupied. Over 43,637 beneficiaries have been vaccinated in the last 24 hours. This data was shared by the Delhi government today.

Meanwhile, with a steep rise in the coronavirus cases and related deaths, the Delhi government has decided to provide free vaccines to everyone between the age group of 18-45 years.

This was announced by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a press conference today, April 26. Four days from now, on May 1, as part of its vaccination programme, India would start vaccinating people above 18 years of age.

Kejriwal also questioned the COVID-19 vaccine prices announced recently by the two vaccine manufacturers — Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech. The central government has today asked the vaccine manufacturers to lower the prices of their vaccines Covishield and Covaxin.

Also Read: Centre asks Serum Institute, Bharat Biotech to lower the prices of COVID19 vaccines

On April 24, Bharat Biotech International Ltd announced that “following the directives of the Government of India”, the price of Covaxin, India’s first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine, will be Rs 600 per dose for state governments and Rs 1,200 per dose for private hospitals. Three days before that, on April 21, Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd also announced that its Covishield vaccine would be sold to the state governments for Rs 400 per dose and to the private hospitals for Rs 600 per dose.

Meanwhile the same vaccine is being supplied to the central government at Rs 150 per dose, which the Indian government is distributing free of cost.

Also Read: Can rural Indians afford Rs 400-600 per dose of vaccine? Gaon Connection Survey had recently tried to find out

In his press conference today, Kejriwal  also said that children below 18 were also getting infected and dying. “It’s time to think for them too. If these vaccines are safe & effective for them, they should be given these. If not, then I hope new vaccines will be developed soon that will be effective & safe for children,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government today has given an approval for the purchase of 13.4 million vaccines. “We will make an effort to ensure that it is purchased soon and administered at the earliest to people,” said the chief minister.