COVID-19: India reports 10,273 new cases; 243 more deaths
India on Sunday reported over 10,000 new COVID-19 cases, a decline of around 1,000 cases from the previous day. The active caseload in the country currently stands at 1,11,472, which accounts for 0.26% of the total cases. In the past 24 hours, 10,273 new cases and 243 fatalities were reported. Meanwhile, India's COVID-19 recovery rate has reached 98.54%.
Why does this story matter?
India on Sunday reported fewer COVID-19 cases than the day before. Notably, this was the lowest daily tally in 60 days since December 2021. Meanwhile, both the weekly positivity rate and active caseload are declining rapidly over the last few days. This comes after India witnessed a massive spurt in cases in December-end and at the beginning of January due to the Omicron variant.
Over 20,000 patients discharged
According to data shared by the Union Health Ministry, India reported a total of 4,29,16,117 COVID-19 cases till Sunday morning, while the cumulative death count reached 5,13,724. With 20,439 fresh discharges, the number of total recoveries climbed to 4,22,90,921. The daily positivity rate and the weekly positivity rate were recorded at 1% and 1.26%, respectively.
Kerala adds most new cases
Maharashtra reported 893 new COVID-19 cases along with 1,761 more recoveries. Kerala, the second worst-hit state after Maharashtra, reported 3,262 new cases and 7,339 discharges. The third worst-hit Karnataka added 514 fresh cases and 1,073 recoveries. Tamil Nadu, the fourth worst-hit state, witnessed 480 new cases and 1,464 discharges. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh reported 141 new cases and 1,329 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 177 crore vaccine doses administered
Till 9:30 am on Sunday, India administered over 177.3 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses. Overall, nearly 79 crore people have been fully vaccinated, while more than 96.5 crore people have received one dose. On Sunday alone, India administered over 12,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses till 9:30 am, including over 10,000 second doses and over 1,000 first doses, according to Co-WIN.
1.88 crore 'precautionary' doses administered
Meanwhile, India has administered over 1.88 crore "precautionary" doses since January 10. On Sunday, 257 healthcare/frontline workers and 755 elderly people were given the precautionary dose till 9:30 am.
IIT-K researchers predict fourth wave around June 22
Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur predicted that the fourth wave of COVID-19 infection may begin around June 22. They further said that the fourth wave, if there is, will last at least four months, that is until October 2022. However, its severity will depend on the emergence of new variants, vaccination status of people, and administration of booster doses, they added.
