Punjab reports less than 2,000 Covid cases after two months Malta-based company offers to provide Sputnik V to Haryana
79 fatalities took toll to 15,009, positivity dipped to two-month low of 2.84%
CHANDIGARH : Covid-19 cases fell below 2,000 in Punjab on Saturday for the first time in the past two months. The state’s tally rose to 5,77,997 with 1,907 cases, while 79 fatalities took the toll to 15,009, according to a medical bulletin released by the state government.
The state’s positivity rate also dipped to 2.84%, the lowest in two months.
Ludhiana reported a maximum of 433 cases, followed by 371 in Jalandhar, 297 in Amritsar, 25O in Bathida, 215 in Fazilka.
Eight deaths were reported in Bathinda, seven each in Amritsar and Sangrur, six each in Fazilka and Patiala and five each in Muktsar and Jalandhar, the bulletin said.
With 3,619 recoveries, the number of those cured reached 5,38,534. There are 295 critical patients who are on ventilator support. Besides, 95,98,059 samples have been collected for testing so far in the state, the bulletin said.
Haryana’s active cases dip to 4 digits
For the first time in months, the active infection numbers in Haryana came below five-digit mark on Saturday.
The number of active cases on Saturday were 9,974. As per a medical bulletin, the state reported 723 new infections, 1,744 recoveries and 59 deaths on Saturday.
The day’s positivity rate further came down to 1.87% from 2.13% on Friday and the recovery rate improved to 97.55%. The health authorities tested 41,467 individuals for the virus on Saturday.
Hisar district, with 979 active infections, continued to have the highest active case count followed by Sirsa (907), Gurugram (812), Karnal (772), Panipat (566), Panchkula (561), Yamunanagar (533), Faridabad (523), Rohtak (489), Bhiwani (486), Mahendergarh (450), Jind (439), Ambala (429), Kaithal (404), Kurukshetra and Fatehabad (420 each).
CHANDIGARH: After its global bid to purchase 10 million Covid-19 vaccine doses did not get a response, the Haryana government on Saturday said a Maltaheadquartered pharma company has come up with an offer to provide 60 million doses of Sputnik V vaccine.
Pharma Regulatory Services Limited, which gave an expression of interest to provide Sputnik vaccine, is based in the southern European island nation of Malta, a known tax haven. Additional chief secretary (ACS), health, Rajeev Arora said though the offer has come after the due date of the global tender lapsed, it is still being examined to see if it met the criteria of the tender document and ensured optimal vaccine availability for the state. “We are verifying the antecedents of the pharma company. We will also get in touch with the Indian High Commission in Malta to do a thorough check on the company,” said Arora.
An official spokesperson said the Malta-based Pharma Regulatory Services Limited has given an expression of interest to Haryana Medical Services Corporation
Limited (HMSCL) for providing 60 million Sputnik vaccine doses at Rs 1,120 per dose. The firm has given a timeline of 30 days to supply the first batch of half a million (5 lakh) doses, followed by a million doses every 20 days till the supply is completed against a letter of credit issued in their name. The last date for receipt of global tender was June 4. Russian manufactured Sputnik-v is the only vaccine besides Covishield of Serum Institute of India and Covaxin of Bharat Biotech which has been granted emergency use authorisation (EUA) by the Drug Controller General of India.
Over 900 jabbed at Karnal’s drive-through facility
KARNAL: In just three hours, over 900 people were jabbed with the Covid-19 vaccine at the drivethrough facility near Karnal’s Balri bypass, which operates during weekends. Deputy commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav said on Saturday, around 945 people received the jab, of which 914 were in the 18 to 45 years age group. Stating that on-spot registrations are available, the DC informed that the drive-through facility will be running on Sunday as well.