NEW DELHI: The Central government has granted a fresh supply of ventilators to eleven states including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, which reports a chunk of daily Covid-19 positive cases.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan made the announcement while chairing a high-level review meeting with the Health Ministers of 11 states and Union territories.

Reminding the Health Ministers that 34,228 ventilators were granted to the states by the Centre last year, Harsh Vardhan assured a fresh supply of the lifesaving machines: 1,121 ventilators are to be given to Maharashtra, 1,700 to Uttar Pradesh, 1,500 to Jharkhand, 1,600 to Gujarat, 152 to Madhya Pradesh and 230 to Chhattisgarh.

Detailing the number of beneficiaries vaccinated in each targeted segment of the population, the Minister also addressed the perceived issue of vaccine shortage.

The total consumption of vaccines so far has been approximately 12,57,18,000 doses against the 14.15 crore doses provided by the Centre to the states. About 1.58 lakh doses are still available with the states while another 1,16, 84,000 are in pipeline, to be delivered by next week.

Presented a snapshot of unprecedented rise in new cases at the outset, the Minister noted that India reported its highest single-day spike on April 12 which was also the highest number of daily new cases reported in the world.

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