COVID-19: India reports 4,184 new cases; 104 more deaths
India on Thursday reported over 4,000 new COVID-19 cases, a decline of around 400 cases from the previous day. The active caseload in the country currently stands at 44,488, which accounts for 0.10% of the total cases. In the past 24 hours, 4,184 new cases and 104 fatalities were reported. Meanwhile, India's COVID-19 recovery rate has reached 98.70%.
Why does this story matter?
India on Thursday reported fewer COVID-19 cases than the day before. Meanwhile, both active caseload and positivity rates have also continued with their steady decline. 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—has been attributed to the Omicron variant.
Over 6,500 patients discharged
According to data shared by the Union Health Ministry, India reported a total of 4,29,80,067 COVID-19 cases till Thursday morning, while the cumulative death count reached 5,15,459. With 6,554 fresh discharges, the number of total recoveries in the country climbed to 4,24,20,120. The daily positivity rate and the weekly positivity rate were recorded at 0.48% and 0.58%, respectively.
Kerala adds most new cases
Maharashtra reported 359 new COVID-19 cases along with 559 more recoveries. Kerala, the second worst-hit state after Maharashtra, reported 1,421 new cases and 2,130 discharges. The third worst-hit Karnataka added 181 fresh cases and 222 recoveries. Tamil Nadu, the fourth worst-hit state, witnessed 147 new cases and 387 discharges. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh reported 70 new cases and 129 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 179 crore vaccine doses administered
Till 10 am on Thursday, India administered over 179.4 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses. Overall, over 80.6 crore people have been fully vaccinated, while more than 96.8 crore people have received one dose. On Thursday alone, India administered over 80,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses till 10 am, including over 65,000 second doses and nearly 7,000 first doses, according to Co-WIN.
1.97 crore 'precautionary' doses administered
Meanwhile, India has administered over 1.97 crore "precautionary" doses since January 10. On Thursday, over 3,000 healthcare/frontline workers and over 5,000 elderly people were given the precautionary dose till 10 am.
PM chairs meeting to review COVID-19 situation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday chaired a meeting to review the COVID-19 situation in the country, NDTV reported citing government sources. Reportedly, Home Minister Amit Shah and Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya attended the meeting besides many senior government officials. The meeting comes as India is witnessing a steady decline of COVID-19 cases, and restrictions are lifted in most of the states.