With 592,182 active caseload (active COVID patients) in the state, Karnataka has surpassed Maharashtra to become the worst affected state by coronavirus. The total active caseload of Maharashtra stands at 546,129.
Yesterday, Karnataka recorded nearly 40,000 new cases, as many as 516 people in the state lost their lives to the virus. Whereas Maharashtra recorded 46,781 fresh infections, and 816 deaths.
Amid vaccine shortage, the Karnataka government has temporarily suspended the COVID-19 vaccination for everyone between the age group of 18 to 44 years from May 14.
Also Read: COVID19 vaccination: Karnataka temporarily suspends vaccination for 18-44 years age group
“On May 7, the government decided to utilise the complete supply of vaccines provided by the Government of India only for vaccination of persons above 45 years and for vaccinating beneficiaries who were due for second dose,” reads the statement issued by the state government.
“Therefore, all vaccines available with the State government (i.e. supplied by Government of India and procured directly by the State) will be utilised for vaccination of beneficiaries due for the second dose,” announced the government.
Yesterday, in a joint letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leaders of 12 opposition parties, including Congress president Sonia Gandhi, JDS leader HD Deve Gowda and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, asked the central government to procure vaccines centrally from global and domestic sources and begin a free, universal mass vaccination campaign across the country.
“Procure vaccines centrally from all available sources – global and domestic. Immediately begin a free, universal mass vaccination campaign across the country. Invoke compulsory licensing to expand domestic vaccine production. Spend budgetary allocation of Rs 35,000 crores for the vaccines,” read the letter.
In India, cumulatively over 177 million beneficiaries have been administered COVID19 vaccine; 1,894,991 vaccine doses have been administered in the last 24 hours.
Meanwhile, the country reported 4,120 deaths and 362,727 new infections in the last 24 hours. The daily recovered cases stand at 352,181.
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