COVID-19: India reports 2,539 new cases; 60 more deaths
India on Thursday reported over 2,500 new COVID-19 cases, a decline of around 300 cases from the previous day. The active caseload in the country currently stands at 30,799, which accounts for 0.07% of the total cases. In the past 24 hours, a total of 2,539 new cases and 60 fatalities were reported. Meanwhile, India's COVID-19 recovery rate has increased to 98.73%.
Why does this story matter?
India on Thursday reported fewer COVID-19 cases than the day before. Meanwhile, both active caseload and positivity rates are also continuing with their declining trend. 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.
Over 4,000 patients recovered
According to data shared by the Union Health Ministry, India reported a total of 4,30,01,477 COVID-19 cases till Thursday morning, while the cumulative death count reached 5,16,132. With 4,491 fresh discharges, the number of total recoveries in the country climbed to 4,24,54,546. The daily positivity rate and the weekly positivity rate were recorded at 0.35% and 0.42%, respectively.
Kerala adds most new cases
Maharashtra reported 237 new COVID-19 cases along with 455 more recoveries. Kerala, the second worst-hit state after Maharashtra, reported 966 new cases and 1,444 discharges. The third worst-hit Karnataka added 145 fresh cases and 392 recoveries. Tamil Nadu, the fourth worst-hit state, witnessed 72 new cases and 161 discharges. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh reported 69 new cases and 82 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 180 crore vaccine doses administered
As of Thursday, India administered over 180.7 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses. Overall, over 81.7 crore people have been fully vaccinated, while more than 96.9 crore people have received one dose. On Thursday alone, India administered over 72,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses till 10 am, including over 43,000 second doses and more than 21,000 first doses, according to Co-WIN.
Over 2 crore 'precautionary' doses administered
Meanwhile, India has administered over 2.02 crore "precautionary" doses since January 10. On Thursday, over 1,700 healthcare/frontline workers and more than 6,300 elderly people were given the precautionary dose till 10 am.
On day 1, over 2 lakh 12-14 year olds vaccinated
On the first day of vaccination for 12-14 year olds, over two lakh vaccine doses were administered, the Ministry of Health and family welfare said in an official statement on Thursday. On Wednesday, 2,60,136 children in the age group were administered the first dose of COVID -19 vaccines. India started vaccinating children of this age group from Wednesday.
