NEW DELHI: India reported 80,834 fresh COVID-19 cases, the lowest after 71 days, while the daily positivity rate further dropped to 4.25 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.
The COVID-19 death toll climbed to 3,70,384 with 3,303 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.
The active cases further declined to 10,26,159 comprising 3.49 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 95.26 per cent.
A net decline of 54,531 cases has been recorded in the COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.
Also 19,20,477 tests were conducted on Saturday taking the total cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of COVID-19 in the country to 37,62,32,162 while the daily positivity rate has further dropped to 4.25 per cent .
It has been less than 10 per cent for 20 consecutive days, the ministry said, adding the weekly positivity rate fell below 5 per cent and was recorded 4.74 per cent.
Recoveries continue to outnumber daily new cases for the 31st consecutive day.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 2,80,43,446, while the case fatality rate has increased to 1.26 per cent, the data stated.
Cumulatively, 25,31,95,048 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.
India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.
It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.
India crossed the grim milestone of 2 crore on May 4.
The 3,303 fresh fatalities include 1,966 from Maharashtra, 374 from Tamil Nadu, 171 from Kerala and 144 from Karnataka.
A total of 3,70,384 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 1,08,333 from Maharashtra, 32,788 from Karnataka, 29,280 from Tamil Nadu, 24,800 from Delhi, 21,735 from Uttar Pradesh, 16,812 from West Bengal, 15,503 from Punjab and 13,311 from Chhattisgarh.
The ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.
“Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research,” the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.
In a statement, the ministry said that India has also crossed the “historic landmark” 20 crore — 20,46,01,176 — first dose administration.
It said that 18,45,201 people in the 18-44 age group received their first dose and 1,12,633 got their second dose of Covid vaccine on Saturday.
Cumulatively, 4,00,31,646 people across the country have received their first dose and 6,74,499 their second dose since the start of Phase-3 of the vaccination drive.
Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have administered to more than 10 lakh beneficiaries of 18-44 years age group their first dose of Covid vaccine, the ministry said.
The total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has reached 25,28,78,702, according to a provisional report compiled at 7 pm.
The number includes 1,00,47,057 healthcare workers (HCWs) who have taken their first dose, 69,62,262 HCWs who have taken their second dose, and 1,67,20,729 frontline workers (FLWs) who have received their first dose, and 88,37,805 FLWs who have taken their second dose.
Besides, 7,53,56,174 and 1,19,35,606 beneficiaries in the 45-60 age group have been administered the first and the second dose respectively, while 6,24,45,570 and 1,98,67,354 beneficiaries above 60 years of age have taken the first and the second dose respectively.
As on Day-148 of the vaccination drive on Saturday, a total of 31,67,961 vaccine doses were given with 28,11,307 beneficiaries vaccinated with the first dose and 3,56,654 beneficiaries with the second dose, according to the provisional report till 7 P.M.
