Puducherry records 30 deaths, has 17,424 under Covid care

PUDUCHERRY: Thirty patients died of Covid-19 in Puducherry in the 24 hours ending 10am on Friday, taking the death toll to1,099 in the Union territory. The fatality rate of the infection stood at 1.4%, which is higher than the national average of 1.1%.
The territory reported 1,974 fresh cases even as 1,088 patients recovered, leaving 17,424 active cases on Friday. Of them, 15,297 are in home isolation and treatment.
The territory has so far reported 80,947 cases with a recovery rate of 77%, which is less than the national average of 83.5%. The positivity rate of the samples (9,148) tested on Friday stood at 21.6%.
The directorate of health and family welfare services has so far administered the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine to 1.78 lakh people and both doses to 47,025.
Meanwhile, the administration established a 50-bed Ayush hospital on the Indira Gandhi government college of arts and sciences campus on Friday. The hospital will extend Siddha, Ayurvedha and homoeopathic treatment to asymptomatic and mild Covid-19 patients. Lieutenant governor (additional charge) Tamilisai Soundararajan inaugurated the facility. She said the territory has a stock of 1.4 lakh doses of vaccine and added that the government will soon start vaccination drive for people aged18 to 44 years.