NE NEWS SERVICE
AHMEDABAD, JUN 3
The Gujarat government on Thursday said it has decided to expand its COVID-19 vaccination programme for the 18-44 age group to the remaining 23 districts of the state starting June 4, from the 10 districts where it is currently on.
An important decision of CM Shri @vijayrupanibjp to administer free vaccines to 2.25 lakh youth in the age group of 18-44 and 75,000 people above 45 years, totaling to 3 lakh people daily from 1200 vaccination centers in all districts of the State starting from tomorrow – June 4. pic.twitter.com/RHrDkUGb2z
— CMO Gujarat (@CMOGuj) June 3, 2021
The state government also announced its plans to inoculate three lakh people daily, including 2.25 lakh beneficiaries in the 18-44 category, and 75,000 others from 45-plus category, from Friday.
Currently, the drive for 18-44 category is being held in 10 districts, namely Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Kutch, Mehsana, Bharuch and Gandhinagar.
In a video address, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that eligible beneficiaries in the age group of 18 to 44 across the state will be given vaccines at 1,200 centres.
“It is necessary to speed up the vaccination drive to completely stem the spread of coronavirus. At present, people above the age of 45 are given free vaccines across the state with the Centre’s help. For the 18-44 age group, the state government has placed an order for three crore doses,” Rupani said.
An average 30,000 persons in the 18-44 category have been given jabs every day since the drive started on May 1 in 10 districts, he said.
“Starting Friday, we are launching the drive in all the districts. We are planning to vaccinate around 2.25 lakh persons of 18 to 44 age group every day for free. This is in addition to 75,000 persons above the age of 45, who are vaccinated every day,” the chief minister said.
In all, around three lakh persons will get the vaccine on a daily basis from June 4, he added.
1,207 new coronavirus cases; 3,018 recoveries
Gujarat recorded 1,207 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the tally of cases to 8,13,270, the state health department said on Thursday evening.
The death toll reached 9,890 after 17 more patients succumbed to the infection, including four in Ahmedabad and three in Surat district.
As many as 3,018 patients were discharged during the day. The tally of recoveries went up to 7,78,976.
The state’s recovery rate stood at 95.78 per cent.
Gujarat now has 24,404 active cases, 429 of them on ventilator.
Ahmedabad city recorded the maximum number of 191 cases during the day, followed by 132 in Vadodara city, 104 in the rest of Vadodara district and 80 in Surat city.
A total of 1,76,39,673 people have been vaccinated against coronavirus in the state so far.
During the day, 1.75 lakh persons received the jab.
As many as 28 new cases were reported in the adjoining Union Territory of Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, said a release by the local authorities, adding that 34 patients recovered and were given discharge during the day.
Out of the total 10,341 infections recorded in the Union Territory since the outbreak, four persons died, 10,088 recovered while 249 cases are still active.
Gujarat’s COVID-19 figures are positive cases 8,13,270, new cases 1,207, death toll 9,890, discharged 7,78,976, active cases 24,404 and people tested so far – figures not released.
