<span style="color: #222222;">India has recorded a plateau in daily new Covid-19 cases and positivity rate in the last three days. The positivity rate in the country has declined from 21.95 percent to 21.02 percent in the last one week. Briefing media in New Delhi on Thursday, Joint Secretary in the Health Ministry, Lav Agarwal said, 187 districts in the country have shown a continued decline in cases since the last two weeks. He said, there are 12 States which have over one lakh active cases while eight States have 50 thousand to one lakh active cases and 16 States have with less than 50 thousand active cases. He stressed the need to focus on containment measures to check the spread of COVID-19. Mr. Agarwal urged the people to follow social distance and those who have been infected with the virus should properly isolate themselves at home.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">On the occasion, NITI Aayog Member (Health), Dr. V K Paul said, around 18 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in the country. He informed that around one-third of people with 45 years and above age are protected. He said, so far 35.6 crore vaccine doses have been procured. Under the Prime Minister Cares Fund, 6.6 crore doses were procured and they have been received and utilized fully. Additional 16 crore doses are in pipeline to states and private hospitals. Dr. Paul said, 216 crore doses of vaccines will be manufactured in India between August to December this year. He added that there should be no doubt that vaccines will be available for all as we move forward. He also said the Sputnik vaccine has arrived in the country and expressed hope that it will be available in the market next week. Dr. Paul added that any vaccine that is approved by FDA, WHO can come to India and import license will be granted within one to two days. He also said the Indian government has been in touch with Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson from the beginning and invited them to come to India to manufacture the vaccines.</span><br />''  <br />