Experts are hopeful a vaccine for coronavirus is likely to be ready within the next few weeks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi  said last evening, adding that three different vaccine candidates are in different stages of trials. 

Earlier this week, the United Kingdom became the first western country to clear the Pfizer vaccine. However, the US pharma firm had not applied for trials in India, sources had said.

"India is one of the few countries where the testing and recovery rates are very high and the mortality rate is very low. Compared to developed countries, India has fought against COVID much better and has managed to save a lot of lives," PM Modi said.

PM Modi's remarks came after an all-party meeting on Friday on Covid, second since the beginning of the pandemic. 

Tracing, testing and isolation of coronavirus patients with severe symptoms helped the country in bringing down the number of active cases, the government said this morning. 

India has recorded over 95 lakh cases and 1.39 lakh deaths linked to the deadly virus since the first case was reported on January 30 from Kerala. 

BDST: 1233 HRS, DEC 05, 2020
SMS