COVID-19: India reports 14,148 new cases; 302 more fatalities
India on Thursday reported over 14,000 new COVID-19 cases, a decline of around 1,000 cases from the previous day. The active caseload in the country currently stands at 1,48,359, which accounts for 0.35% of the total cases. In the past 24 hours, 14,148 new cases and 302 fatalities were reported. Meanwhile, India's COVID-19 recovery rate has reached 98.46%.
Why does this story matter?
India on Thursday reported fewer COVID-19 cases than the day before. The active caseload and the weekly positivity rate also continue to record a declining trend. This comes after India witnessed a massive spurt in cases in December-end and at the beginning of January. The spike in cases—dubbed India's third wave—has been attributed to the highly contagious Omicron variant.
Over 30,000 patients recovered
According to the Union Health Ministry, India reported a total of 4,28,81,179 COVID-19 cases till Thursday morning, while the death toll reached 5,12,924. With 30,009 fresh discharges, the number of total recoveries climbed to 4,22,19,896. As the single-day tally has come down, the daily positivity rate and the weekly positivity rate have also declined to 1.22% and 1.60%, respectively.
Kerala adds most new cases
Maharashtra reported 1,151 new COVID-19 cases along with 2,594 more recoveries. Kerala, the second worst-hit state after Maharashtra, reported 5,023 new cases and 11,077 discharges. The third worst-hit Karnataka added 667 fresh cases and 1,674 recoveries. Tamil Nadu, the fourth worst-hit state, witnessed 618 new cases and 2,153 discharges. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh reported 253 new cases and 635 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 176 crore vaccine doses administered
Till 9:30 am on Thursday, India administered over 176.4 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses. Overall, over 78 crore people have been fully vaccinated, while over 96.4 crore people have received one dose. On Thursday alone, India administered over 50,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses till 9:30 am, including over 43,000 second doses and over 6,000 first doses, according to Co-WIN.
1.84 crore 'precautionary' doses administered
Meanwhile, India has administered over 1.84 crore "precautionary" doses since January 10. On Thursday, nearly 2,000 healthcare/frontline workers and over 3,000 elderly people were given the precautionary dose till 9:30 am.
Maharashtra likely to drop all COVID-19 restrictions by March
Maharashtra is considering dropping all COVID-19-related restrictions in the state by March, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope said. This comes as Maharashtra is witnessing a rapid decline in cases over the last few weeks. "We will put up a proposal in the cabinet meeting, requesting for relaxation of restrictions...However, there is no question of exempting the use of masks," Tope said.
