COVID-19: India reports 795 new cases, 58 more deaths
India on Tuesday reported less than 1,000 new COVID-19 cases for the second consecutive day. The active caseload in the country currently stands at 12,054, which accounts for 0.03% of the total cases so far. In the past 24 hours, a total of 795 new cases and 58 fatalities were reported. Meanwhile, India's COVID-19 recovery rate has increased to 98.76%.
Why does this story matter?
This is the second consecutive day India reported daily COVID-19 cases below the 1000-mark. Meanwhile, active caseload and positivity rates are also recording a steady decline over the past few weeks. This comes after India witnessed a massive spurt in coronavirus infections in December-end and at the beginning of January. The spike in cases—dubbed India's third wave—was attributed to the Omicron variant.
1,280 patients discharged
According to data shared by the Union Health Ministry, India reported a total of 4,30,29,839 COVID-19 cases until Tuesday morning, while the cumulative death count reached 5,21,416. With 1,280 fresh discharges, the number of total recoveries in the country climbed to 4,24,96,369. On the other hand, the daily and weekly positivity rates were recorded at 0.17% and 0.22%, respectively.
Kerala adds most new cases
Kerala saw 256 new cases and 378 discharges in the last 24 hours. Maharashtra reported 52 new COVID-19 cases along with 107 more recoveries and zero deaths during the same period. Karnataka added 38 fresh cases along with 52 recoveries. Tamil Nadu witnessed 21 new cases and 33 discharges. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh reported one new case and 32 recoveries.
India's second wave peaked on May 7
India's second wave peaked on May 7, 2021, when 4.14 lakh single-day cases were reported, over four times the number of cases reported during the first wave in mid-September 2020. Although infections declined after the second wave peaked, India crossed the three-crore mark on June 23. The country crossed the one-crore mark on December 19, 2020, and the two-crore mark on May 4, 2021.
Over 184 crore vaccine doses administered
As of Tuesday morning, India has administered over 184.7 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses. Overall, over 83.4 crore people have been fully vaccinated, while more than 99.1 crore people have received one dose. On Tuesday alone, India administered over one lakh COVID-19 vaccine doses till 10 am, including over 45,000 second doses and over 42,000 first doses, according to Co-WIN.
2.23 crore 'precautionary' doses administered
Moreover, India has administered over 2.23 crore "precautionary" doses since January 10. On Tuesday, nearly 4,500 healthcare/frontline workers and more than 23,000 elderly people were given the precautionary dose till 10 am.
SII CEO urges Centre for mandatory booster doses
Meanwhile, Serum Institute of India (SII) CEO Adar Poonawalla has urged the government to roll out booster doses for those who needed to travel. "We've appealed to the govt as everyone who needs to travel needs to take the booster dose. They're having an internal discussion and should announce very soon in the next few days on the booster policy," Poonawalla said on Monday.
