In a bid to vaccinate maximum number of citizens in Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh led government today under the state government’s 'Corona Mukt Pind Abhiyan' announced a special development grant of Rs 10 lakhs to every village that achieves 100 percent vaccination target. The scheme will help to inoculate all the beneficiaries eligible to take the jab against COVID-19.
Besides, Russia-made Sputnik V is likely to be available in the Indian market from the upcoming week so states are hopeful to bring back speed to their vaccination drive which, at present, is suffering in want of vaccine stocks. Punjab CM Amarinder Singh on Sunday had asked government officials to explore whether Sputnik V can be procured as used for the inoculation of people between the age group of 18 and 44 years.
Punjab is currently facing shortage of vaccines due to which the vaccination program has slowed down.
Meanwhile, Punjab on Monday recorded 194 more COVID-related fatalities, taking the toll to 12,086, while 6,947 fresh cases pushed the tally to 5,04,586 in the state, according to a medical bulletin. The number of new cases was lower than the 7,038 registered on Sunday.
The state's single-day recoveries 8,552 was higher than the 6,947 cases on Monday, according to the bulletin. The number of active cases also declined from 75,478 on Sunday to 73,616, it stated.
The Chandigarh administration yesterday decided to extend the curfew in the city till May 25 morning to further contain the coronavirus. A decision in this regard was taken at a review meeting chaired by Administrator V.P. Singh Badnore.