COVID-19: India reports 1,549 new cases; 31 more deaths
India on Monday reported over 1,500 new COVID-19 cases, a decline of around 200 cases from the previous day. The active caseload in the country currently stands at 25,106, which accounts for 0.06% of the total cases. In the past 24 hours, a total of 1,549 new cases and 31 fatalities were reported. Meanwhile, India's COVID-19 recovery rate has increased to 98.74%.
Why does this story matter?
India on Monday 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 2,600 patients discharged
According to data shared by the Union Health Ministry, India reported a total of 4,30,09,390 COVID-19 cases till Monday morning, while the cumulative death count reached 5,16,510. With 2,652 fresh discharges, the number of total recoveries in the country climbed to 4,24,67,774. Both daily positivity rate and the weekly positivity rate were recorded at 0.40%.
Kerala adds most new cases
Kerala reported 596 new cases and 908 discharges, and zero deaths in the last 24 hours. Maharashtra saw 113 new COVID-19 cases along with 283 more recoveries. Karnataka added 109 fresh cases and 143 recoveries, while Tamil Nadu witnessed 56 new cases and 106 discharges. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh reported 49 new cases and 56 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 181 crore vaccine doses administered
As of Monday, India administered over 181.1 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses. Overall, over 81.9 crore people have been fully vaccinated, while more than 97.1 crore people have received one dose. On Monday alone, India administered over 90,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses till 10 am, including over 39,000 second doses and more than 40,000 first doses, according to Co-WIN.
2.04 crore 'precautionary' doses administered
Meanwhile, India has administered over 2.02 crore "precautionary" doses since January 10. On Monday, nearly 2,000 healthcare/frontline workers and more than 10,000 elderly people were given the precautionary dose till 10 am.
Covishield dose gap should be reduced to 8-16 weeks: Panel
The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation has recommended inoculation of the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine Covishield between eight and 16 weeks after the first dose, official sources told news agency PTI. Currently, the second dose of Covishield is given between 12 to 16 weeks after the first dose under the National COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy.
