News Analysis India

Tag: covid-19

  • ‘Scent of Wind’: Iranian film about disabled father to open Asia’s top film festival

    By AFP

    SEOUL: An Iranian film about a disabled father who looks after his paralysed son will open Asia’s biggest film festival next month, organisers said on Wednesday as the event returns to “fully normal” for the first time since the pandemic started.

    The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) will run from October 5-14 and feature 243 movies from 71 countries, including 89 that will have their world premiere.

    Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the festival was reduced to a fraction of its usual scale in 2020 while last year’s edition took place with social distancing measures.

    But next month, the annual event in the South Korean port city will be “fully normalised for the first time in three years since Covid-19,” festival director Huh Moon-young told reporters.

    “We feel fortunate to be able to play the role of Asia’s best film festival again.”

    The upcoming edition will open with Iranian filmmaker Hadi Mohaghegh’s “Scent of Wind”, which tells the story of a father and a son — both of whom have disabilities — living in a remote village.

    Mohaghegh’s film is “very small and quiet, but it’s really a great movie that has a tremendous amount of resonance and emotion that cannot be compared to its size,” Huh said.

    Japanese director Kei Ishikawa’s drama “A Man”, about a widow who discovers unexpected truths about her late husband, will close the edition.

    The film is “elegant and calm”, festival director Huh said, while offering a memorable exploration of identity and belonging.

    SEOUL: An Iranian film about a disabled father who looks after his paralysed son will open Asia’s biggest film festival next month, organisers said on Wednesday as the event returns to “fully normal” for the first time since the pandemic started.

    The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) will run from October 5-14 and feature 243 movies from 71 countries, including 89 that will have their world premiere.

    Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the festival was reduced to a fraction of its usual scale in 2020 while last year’s edition took place with social distancing measures.

    But next month, the annual event in the South Korean port city will be “fully normalised for the first time in three years since Covid-19,” festival director Huh Moon-young told reporters.

    “We feel fortunate to be able to play the role of Asia’s best film festival again.”

    The upcoming edition will open with Iranian filmmaker Hadi Mohaghegh’s “Scent of Wind”, which tells the story of a father and a son — both of whom have disabilities — living in a remote village.

    Mohaghegh’s film is “very small and quiet, but it’s really a great movie that has a tremendous amount of resonance and emotion that cannot be compared to its size,” Huh said.

    Japanese director Kei Ishikawa’s drama “A Man”, about a widow who discovers unexpected truths about her late husband, will close the edition.

    The film is “elegant and calm”, festival director Huh said, while offering a memorable exploration of identity and belonging.

  • Only 20 per cent of eligible people have taken COVID precaution dose, says data

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Only a fifth of the eligible people in India have taken the precaution dose of COVID-19 vaccine so far, with the lowest coverage in Meghalaya followed by states like Jharkhand, Nagaland, Punjab and Haryana, officials said on Tuesday.

    Around 12 per cent of the eligible 77 crore population in the age group of 18-59 years have taken the precaution dose of COVID-19 vaccine so far, they said.

    Besides, 35 per cent of the 16.80 crore population aged 60 years and above, healthcare and frontline workers have been administered the precaution dose.

    A total of 15.66 crore precaution doses have been given till now with 10.39 crore doses being administered since July 15 after the ‘COVID Vaccination Amrit Mahotsava’ was launched, official sources said.

    The precaution dose coverage among the 64,89,99,721 eligible population between 18-59 years was 8 per cent till July 14.

    Only eight per cent of eligible people aged above 18 years have taken the precaution dose in Meghalaya so far – the lowest in the country followed by Jharkhand and Nagaland at nine per cent each and Punjab and Haryana at 10 per cent each.

    In fact, the coverage is only about a third in the major states.

    Among UTs, Andaman and Nicobar islands lead the chart with 78 per cent followed by 59 per cent in Ladakh.

    The coverage is 21 per cent in Delhi.

    While UP has coverage of 22 per cent, a mere 13 per cent of the eligible population have taken the precaution dose in Maharashtra, official sources said.

    The coverage is 17 per cent in Madhya Pradesh, 24 per cent in West Bengal, 13 per cent in Kerala, 14 per cent each in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan, 18 per cent in Karnataka, 32 per cent in Gujarat , 23 per cent in Bihar and 16 per cent in Assam, they said.

    Under the campaign which was launched on July 15, 9,28,598 special vaccination camps have been organised so far by all the states and UTs.

    This includes camps at railway stations (4,259), bus stations (9,183), airports (370), schools and colleges (1,16,675), on the way to religious places (3,522) and camps at other places (7,94,589), health ministry sources said.

    Since July 15, 10,16,78,376 doses of Covishield, 1,68,14,771 doses of Covaxin and 85,03,008 doses of Corbevax have been given .

    On July 15, the government launched a special 75-day special drive to administer precaution doses to all aged 18 years and above at government vaccination centres free of cost.

    The drive ‘COVID Vaccination Amrit Mahotsava’, aimed at boosting the uptake of COVID-19 vaccine precaution doses among the eligible population, is being held as part of the government’s Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to celebrate the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence.

    Officials said 98 per cent of India’s adult population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine while 92 per cent have been fully vaccinated.

    According to health ministry data, the total vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 212.37 crore on Tuesday with more than 18 lakh (18,08,856) doses being administered till 7 pm.

    NEW DELHI: Only a fifth of the eligible people in India have taken the precaution dose of COVID-19 vaccine so far, with the lowest coverage in Meghalaya followed by states like Jharkhand, Nagaland, Punjab and Haryana, officials said on Tuesday.

    Around 12 per cent of the eligible 77 crore population in the age group of 18-59 years have taken the precaution dose of COVID-19 vaccine so far, they said.

    Besides, 35 per cent of the 16.80 crore population aged 60 years and above, healthcare and frontline workers have been administered the precaution dose.

    A total of 15.66 crore precaution doses have been given till now with 10.39 crore doses being administered since July 15 after the ‘COVID Vaccination Amrit Mahotsava’ was launched, official sources said.

    The precaution dose coverage among the 64,89,99,721 eligible population between 18-59 years was 8 per cent till July 14.

    Only eight per cent of eligible people aged above 18 years have taken the precaution dose in Meghalaya so far – the lowest in the country followed by Jharkhand and Nagaland at nine per cent each and Punjab and Haryana at 10 per cent each.

    In fact, the coverage is only about a third in the major states.

    Among UTs, Andaman and Nicobar islands lead the chart with 78 per cent followed by 59 per cent in Ladakh.

    The coverage is 21 per cent in Delhi.

    While UP has coverage of 22 per cent, a mere 13 per cent of the eligible population have taken the precaution dose in Maharashtra, official sources said.

    The coverage is 17 per cent in Madhya Pradesh, 24 per cent in West Bengal, 13 per cent in Kerala, 14 per cent each in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan, 18 per cent in Karnataka, 32 per cent in Gujarat , 23 per cent in Bihar and 16 per cent in Assam, they said.

    Under the campaign which was launched on July 15, 9,28,598 special vaccination camps have been organised so far by all the states and UTs.

    This includes camps at railway stations (4,259), bus stations (9,183), airports (370), schools and colleges (1,16,675), on the way to religious places (3,522) and camps at other places (7,94,589), health ministry sources said.

    Since July 15, 10,16,78,376 doses of Covishield, 1,68,14,771 doses of Covaxin and 85,03,008 doses of Corbevax have been given .

    On July 15, the government launched a special 75-day special drive to administer precaution doses to all aged 18 years and above at government vaccination centres free of cost.

    The drive ‘COVID Vaccination Amrit Mahotsava’, aimed at boosting the uptake of COVID-19 vaccine precaution doses among the eligible population, is being held as part of the government’s Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to celebrate the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence.

    Officials said 98 per cent of India’s adult population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine while 92 per cent have been fully vaccinated.

    According to health ministry data, the total vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 212.37 crore on Tuesday with more than 18 lakh (18,08,856) doses being administered till 7 pm.

  • Active Covid cases in country decline to 90,707

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India logged 10,256 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of cases to 4,43,89,176, while the active cases declined to 90,707, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.

    The death toll climbed to 5,27,556 with 68 fatalities which include 29 deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.

    The active cases comprise 0.20 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has increased to 98.61 per cent, the ministry said.

    ALSO READ | Two new studies bolster theory that coronavirus emerged from Wuhan animal market

    A decline of 3,340 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

    India’s COVID-19 tally crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.

    It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.

    ALSO READ | India records 10,725 new COVID cases; active infections in country decline to 94,047

    The country crossed the grim milestone of two crores on May 4 and three crores on June 23 last year.

    It crossed the four-crore mark on January 25 this year.

    NEW DELHI: India logged 10,256 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of cases to 4,43,89,176, while the active cases declined to 90,707, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.

    The death toll climbed to 5,27,556 with 68 fatalities which include 29 deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.

    The active cases comprise 0.20 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has increased to 98.61 per cent, the ministry said.

    ALSO READ | Two new studies bolster theory that coronavirus emerged from Wuhan animal market

    A decline of 3,340 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

    India’s COVID-19 tally crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.

    It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.

    ALSO READ | India records 10,725 new COVID cases; active infections in country decline to 94,047

    The country crossed the grim milestone of two crores on May 4 and three crores on June 23 last year.

    It crossed the four-crore mark on January 25 this year.

  • Maharashtra govt to bear education cost of college students who lost parents to COVID-19

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Minister Chandrakant Patil on Monday said the state government will bear the education expenses of college students who have lost both their parents to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The state higher and technical education minister made the announcement on the floor of the state Assembly while responding to a question by Congress legislator Shirish Chaudhary.

    “As many as 931 undergraduate and 228 postgraduate students of various government colleges have lost both their parents to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The government will pay their fees of the entire course,” Patil said.

    The minister further said that the decision will cost the state exchequer more than Rs 2 crore annually, and there will be no need for the state government to pass similar decision every year.

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Minister Chandrakant Patil on Monday said the state government will bear the education expenses of college students who have lost both their parents to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The state higher and technical education minister made the announcement on the floor of the state Assembly while responding to a question by Congress legislator Shirish Chaudhary.

    “As many as 931 undergraduate and 228 postgraduate students of various government colleges have lost both their parents to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The government will pay their fees of the entire course,” Patil said.

    The minister further said that the decision will cost the state exchequer more than Rs 2 crore annually, and there will be no need for the state government to pass similar decision every year.

  • 12,608 new Covid cases in India; 72 deaths

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India saw a single-day rise of 12,608 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of Covid-19 cases to 4,42,98,864, while the active cases declined to 1,01,343, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.

    The national death toll climbed to 5,27,206 with 72 fatalities, including 29 fatalities by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.

    The active cases comprised 0.23 per cent of the total infections, as the national Covid-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.58 per cent, the health ministry said.

    A decline of 3,715 cases was recorded in the active Covid-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 3.48 per cent, and weekly at 4.20 per cent, according to the health ministry.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has surged to 4,36,70,315. The overall fatality rate to date stands at 1.19 per cent.

    According to the ministry, 208.95 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide Covid-19 vaccination drive.

    India’s Covid-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020. It crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4, 2021, and four crore on January 25 this year.

    The 43 new fatalities composed of eight from Delhi, six from Maharashtra, five from Haryana, four each from Punjab and West Bengal, three from Karnataka, two each from Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh and one each from Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

    NEW DELHI: India saw a single-day rise of 12,608 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of Covid-19 cases to 4,42,98,864, while the active cases declined to 1,01,343, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.

    The national death toll climbed to 5,27,206 with 72 fatalities, including 29 fatalities by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.

    The active cases comprised 0.23 per cent of the total infections, as the national Covid-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.58 per cent, the health ministry said.

    A decline of 3,715 cases was recorded in the active Covid-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 3.48 per cent, and weekly at 4.20 per cent, according to the health ministry.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has surged to 4,36,70,315. The overall fatality rate to date stands at 1.19 per cent.

    According to the ministry, 208.95 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide Covid-19 vaccination drive.

    India’s Covid-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020. It crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4, 2021, and four crore on January 25 this year.

    The 43 new fatalities composed of eight from Delhi, six from Maharashtra, five from Haryana, four each from Punjab and West Bengal, three from Karnataka, two each from Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh and one each from Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

  • Tamil Nadu reports highest Omicron BA.5 cases in India

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Over 300 cases of the extremely contagious Omicron BA.5 have been recorded in India. One of the sub-variants driving the increase of Covid in India and around the world is Omicron BA.5. With 150 cases, Tamil Nadu has reported the most cases in India until July 17, followed by West Bengal, with 45 cases.

    The Omicron BA.4 sub-variant was found in 68 samples received by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG). At least 20 such cases were reported in Telangana, according to the Union Health Ministry.

    India, like other nations, is witnessing a recent increase in Covid cases. The nation also reported cases of Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants, which are more contagious. An 80-year-old man in Telangana was diagnosed with the BA.5 in May while a 19-year-old girl in Tamil Nadu was the first person to contract BA.4.

    According to information provided by the ministry in Lok Sabha, 68 cases of BA.4 and 331 cases of BA.5 were found in India till July 17. The BA.5 sub-variant has been reported from 14 states so far, including Maharashtra, Telangana, and Delhi.

    NEW DELHI: Over 300 cases of the extremely contagious Omicron BA.5 have been recorded in India. One of the sub-variants driving the increase of Covid in India and around the world is Omicron BA.5. With 150 cases, Tamil Nadu has reported the most cases in India until July 17, followed by West Bengal, with 45 cases.

    The Omicron BA.4 sub-variant was found in 68 samples received by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG). At least 20 such cases were reported in Telangana, according to the Union Health Ministry.

    India, like other nations, is witnessing a recent increase in Covid cases. The nation also reported cases of Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants, which are more contagious. An 80-year-old man in Telangana was diagnosed with the BA.5 in May while a 19-year-old girl in Tamil Nadu was the first person to contract BA.4.

    According to information provided by the ministry in Lok Sabha, 68 cases of BA.4 and 331 cases of BA.5 were found in India till July 17. The BA.5 sub-variant has been reported from 14 states so far, including Maharashtra, Telangana, and Delhi.

  • Active Covid cases decline in country

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India added 14,092 new coronavirus infections taking the virus tally to 4,42,53,464, while the active cases dipped to 1,16,861, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

    The death toll climbed to 5,27,037 with 41 fatalities which includes 12 deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.

    The active cases comprise 0.26 per cent of the total infections, while the national Covid-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.54 per cent, the ministry said.

    A decrease of 2,403 cases has been recorded in the active Covid-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

    The daily positivity rate was recorded at 3.69 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 4.57 per cent, according to the ministry.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,36,09,566, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent.

    According to the ministry, 207.99 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide Covid-19 vaccination drive.

    India’s Covid-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19 that year.

    It crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4, 2021, three crore on June 23, 2021. It crossed the four-crore mark on January 25 this year.

    The 29 new fatalities include nine from Delhi, five from Karnataka, three each from Gujarat and West Bengal, two from Uttar Pradesh, one each from Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Punjab and Uttarakhand.

    NEW DELHI: India added 14,092 new coronavirus infections taking the virus tally to 4,42,53,464, while the active cases dipped to 1,16,861, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

    The death toll climbed to 5,27,037 with 41 fatalities which includes 12 deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.

    The active cases comprise 0.26 per cent of the total infections, while the national Covid-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.54 per cent, the ministry said.

    A decrease of 2,403 cases has been recorded in the active Covid-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

    The daily positivity rate was recorded at 3.69 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 4.57 per cent, according to the ministry.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,36,09,566, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent.

    According to the ministry, 207.99 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide Covid-19 vaccination drive.

    India’s Covid-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19 that year.

    It crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4, 2021, three crore on June 23, 2021. It crossed the four-crore mark on January 25 this year.

    The 29 new fatalities include nine from Delhi, five from Karnataka, three each from Gujarat and West Bengal, two from Uttar Pradesh, one each from Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Punjab and Uttarakhand.

  • As Covid cases surge, Punjab government makes face masks mandatory

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH:  In view of a spurt in coronavirus cases, the Punjab government on Saturday made the wearing of face masks mandatory in public places, officials said.

    The advisory was issued by the state home affairs and justice department to all divisional, deputy commissioners, zonal inspector general of police, commissioners of police and civil surgeons in the state.

    It has been observed that many people are not following Covid-appropriate behaviour, specially wearing of masks, according to the advisory.

    “Further, the number of Covid positive cases, positivity rate and hospitalisation are showing an upward trend,” it said.

    The wearing of masks shall be ensured in all educational institutions, government and private offices and indoor/outdoor gatherings, malls, and public places for the prevention of further spread of the virus well-being of every individual, it said.

    Covid-appropriate behaviour like social distancing, respiratory etiquette and no spitting in public places must be followed, it further said.

    Anyone having symptoms of COVID-19 must get tested and follow the established protocol, it added.

    All hospitals, labs, collection centres offering testing for COVID-19 should upload details of tests, including positive and negative results, on COVA Portal of the state government and also intimate the respective district and state COVID-19 cell, it said.

    It further said those due for the second dose and precautionary dose of COVID-19 vaccine must take them at the earliest.

    CHANDIGARH:  In view of a spurt in coronavirus cases, the Punjab government on Saturday made the wearing of face masks mandatory in public places, officials said.

    The advisory was issued by the state home affairs and justice department to all divisional, deputy commissioners, zonal inspector general of police, commissioners of police and civil surgeons in the state.

    It has been observed that many people are not following Covid-appropriate behaviour, specially wearing of masks, according to the advisory.

    “Further, the number of Covid positive cases, positivity rate and hospitalisation are showing an upward trend,” it said.

    The wearing of masks shall be ensured in all educational institutions, government and private offices and indoor/outdoor gatherings, malls, and public places for the prevention of further spread of the virus well-being of every individual, it said.

    Covid-appropriate behaviour like social distancing, respiratory etiquette and no spitting in public places must be followed, it further said.

    Anyone having symptoms of COVID-19 must get tested and follow the established protocol, it added.

    All hospitals, labs, collection centres offering testing for COVID-19 should upload details of tests, including positive and negative results, on COVA Portal of the state government and also intimate the respective district and state COVID-19 cell, it said.

    It further said those due for the second dose and precautionary dose of COVID-19 vaccine must take them at the earliest.

  • Congress chief Sonia Gandhi tests positive for COVID-19 again

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi Saturday tested positive for COVID-19 again and will remain in isolation.

    Earlier this week, her daughter and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had also tested positive.

    “Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi has tested positive for Covid-19 today. She will remain in isolation as per Govt. protocol,” Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet Saturday.

    Sonia Gandhi had tested positive for COVID-19 in early June as well.

    Days after she had tested positive, the 75-year-old leader was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here on June 12.

    She was discharged on June 20.

    ALSO READ | Priyanka Gandhi, other Congress leaders test positive for Covid; Rahul’s Rajasthan visit cancelled

    NEW DELHI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi Saturday tested positive for COVID-19 again and will remain in isolation.

    Earlier this week, her daughter and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had also tested positive.

    “Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi has tested positive for Covid-19 today. She will remain in isolation as per Govt. protocol,” Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet Saturday.

    Sonia Gandhi had tested positive for COVID-19 in early June as well.

    Days after she had tested positive, the 75-year-old leader was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here on June 12.

    She was discharged on June 20.

    ALSO READ | Priyanka Gandhi, other Congress leaders test positive for Covid; Rahul’s Rajasthan visit cancelled

  • COVID-19: India records 19,400 new cases, 49 deaths; active infections decline to 1,34,793

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: With 19,406 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, India’s tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 4,41,26,994, while active cases declined to 1,34,793, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Saturday.

    The death toll has climbed to 5,26,649 with 49 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated.

    The active cases comprise 0.31 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.50 per cent, the ministry said.

    A decrease of 571 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

    The daily positivity rate was recorded at 4.96 per cent and the weekly positivity rate was 4.63 per cent, it said.

    The number of recoveries surged to 4,34,65,552, while the case fatality rate 1.19 per cent.

    According to the ministry, 205.92 crore doses against Covid have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive.

    India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.

    It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.

    India crossed the grim milestone of two crore cases on May 4, three crore on June 23 last year and four crore on January 25 this year.

    NEW DELHI: With 19,406 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, India’s tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 4,41,26,994, while active cases declined to 1,34,793, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Saturday.

    The death toll has climbed to 5,26,649 with 49 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated.

    The active cases comprise 0.31 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.50 per cent, the ministry said.

    A decrease of 571 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

    The daily positivity rate was recorded at 4.96 per cent and the weekly positivity rate was 4.63 per cent, it said.

    The number of recoveries surged to 4,34,65,552, while the case fatality rate 1.19 per cent.

    According to the ministry, 205.92 crore doses against Covid have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive.

    India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.

    It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.

    India crossed the grim milestone of two crore cases on May 4, three crore on June 23 last year and four crore on January 25 this year.