India’s positivity rate continues to be below 10 per cent for tenth straight day

India’s positivity rate was recorded below 10 per cent for the tenth straight day as 1.34 lakh fresh Covid cases and 2,887 deaths were recorded, the government data this morning showed.

The country has administered over 22 crore vaccine doses since January and has an aim to vaccinate all eligible people by the end of this year.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday made some sharp remarks on the centre’s vaccine plan as it called the policy of paid vaccination for those between 18 and 44 is “arbitrary and irrational”.

The centre has been asked to file a detailed affidavit giving complete data on the purchase history of all the vaccines till date – Covaxin, Covishield and Sputnik V. The Supreme Court also asks for dates of all procurement orders; number of doses ordered; projected date of supply.

Flagging several other flaws — including shortage of vaccine doses and problems faced by rural people in accessing vaccines — the court asked the Centre to review its vaccination policy and “place on record a roadmap of projected availability of vaccines till 31 December 2021”.