India records 15,144 fresh COVID-19 cases

A day after India kicked off the largest vaccination drive in the world, the COVID-19 caseload of the country climbed to 1,05,57,985 on January 17 with 15,144 fresh infections while recoveries surged to 1,01,96,885, pushing the national recovery rate to 96.58 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry data.

The death toll increased to 1,52,274 with 181 more fatalities, the data updated at 8am showed.

There are 2,08,826 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which constitute 1.98 per cent of the total caseload, the data showed.
The COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.44 per cent, it said.

On January 16, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the vaccination drive and asserted that the made-in-India vaccines being rolled out will ensure a “decisive victory” for the country over the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr. Modi reminded people that two doses of vaccine are very important and asked them to maintain wearing masks and social distancing even after receiving the jabs.

Normally, it takes years to make a vaccine but in such a short span of time, not one, but two ‘Made in India’ vaccines are ready, Modi said, adding work on other vaccines is also progressing at a fast pace.

India getting two vaccines in such a short time is a testimony to the talent and skills of the nation’s scientists’, the prime minister said.

“Our vaccination programme is driven by humanitarian concerns, those exposed to maximum risk will get priority,” he said.