News Analysis India

Tag: covid deaths

  • India records drop in overall Covid cases, but nine states continue to see rise

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: India has reported a 2.85 per cent drop in Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, with the country logging 9,355 new cases, as per Union Health Ministry data.

    While nine states, including Kerala, Delhi, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Haryana, have shown a dip in Covid-19 cases, nine other states continue to see a hike in numbers.

    The states that are witnessing a rise in numbers are Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Goa, among others.

    As many as 26 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, with Delhi – which continues to see over 1,000 Covid-19 cases – registering seven deaths due to Covid-19, as per data.

    Kerala reported six reconciled deaths. The other states that reported Covid-10 deaths include Rajasthan (3), Haryana (2) and Punjab (2).

    Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, Chhattisgarh and Bihar recorded one death each.

    Though the cases have dipped, nine states are showing a spurt in cases of Covid-19, driven by Omicron sub-variant XBB.1.16.

    ALSO READ | ‘Scientists scout for US Covid patient carrying cryptic strain for 2 years’: Reports

    The states that are seeing a jump in number of Covid-19 cases from the previous day are Jammu and Kashmir (48%), Bihar (38%), Jharkhand (29%), Rajasthan (16%), West Bengal (13%) and Maharashtra (9%), said Krishna Prasad N C, a Covid data analyst.

    Poll-bound Karnataka is seeing a hike of 35 per cent in Covid-19 cases from the previous day. Punjab and Goa both recorded a six per cent hike in Covid-19 cases, he said.

    Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that Covid-19 deaths had dropped by 95 per cent since the beginning of the year. But it warned that the virus was still on the move.

    The WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that Covid-19 is here to stay, and the UN agency will publish a guide for countries next week on how to move from an emergency response to the long-term management of Covid-19.

    “We’re very encouraged by the sustained decline in reported deaths from Covid-19, which have dropped 95 per cent since the beginning of this year,” he said.

    “However, some countries are seeing increases and over the past four weeks, 14,000 people lost their lives to this disease. And as the emergence of the new XBB.1.16 variant illustrates the virus is still changing and capable of causing new waves of disease and death.”

    Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead on Covid-19, said XBB sub-lineages were now dominant worldwide. They have an increase in growth advantage and are also showing immune escape, meaning people can be re-infected despite having been vaccinated or previously infected.

    NEW DELHI: India has reported a 2.85 per cent drop in Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, with the country logging 9,355 new cases, as per Union Health Ministry data.

    While nine states, including Kerala, Delhi, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Haryana, have shown a dip in Covid-19 cases, nine other states continue to see a hike in numbers.

    The states that are witnessing a rise in numbers are Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Goa, among others.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    As many as 26 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, with Delhi – which continues to see over 1,000 Covid-19 cases – registering seven deaths due to Covid-19, as per data.

    Kerala reported six reconciled deaths. The other states that reported Covid-10 deaths include Rajasthan (3), Haryana (2) and Punjab (2).

    Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, Chhattisgarh and Bihar recorded one death each.

    Though the cases have dipped, nine states are showing a spurt in cases of Covid-19, driven by Omicron sub-variant XBB.1.16.

    ALSO READ | ‘Scientists scout for US Covid patient carrying cryptic strain for 2 years’: Reports

    The states that are seeing a jump in number of Covid-19 cases from the previous day are Jammu and Kashmir (48%), Bihar (38%), Jharkhand (29%), Rajasthan (16%), West Bengal (13%) and Maharashtra (9%), said Krishna Prasad N C, a Covid data analyst.

    Poll-bound Karnataka is seeing a hike of 35 per cent in Covid-19 cases from the previous day. Punjab and Goa both recorded a six per cent hike in Covid-19 cases, he said.

    Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that Covid-19 deaths had dropped by 95 per cent since the beginning of the year. But it warned that the virus was still on the move.

    The WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that Covid-19 is here to stay, and the UN agency will publish a guide for countries next week on how to move from an emergency response to the long-term management of Covid-19.

    “We’re very encouraged by the sustained decline in reported deaths from Covid-19, which have dropped 95 per cent since the beginning of this year,” he said.

    “However, some countries are seeing increases and over the past four weeks, 14,000 people lost their lives to this disease. And as the emergence of the new XBB.1.16 variant illustrates the virus is still changing and capable of causing new waves of disease and death.”

    Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead on Covid-19, said XBB sub-lineages were now dominant worldwide. They have an increase in growth advantage and are also showing immune escape, meaning people can be re-infected despite having been vaccinated or previously infected.

  • Sixteen more die as Covid cases in India see 38 per cent jump, likely to peak in 10-12 days

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: India has witnessed a 38 percent jump in new Covid-19 cases, with 7,830 new infections being reported in the last 24 hours, the highest since September 2 last year.

    As many as 16 deaths were reported in the country in the last 24 hours. There were two deaths each from Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. One death each was recorded from Gujarat, Haryana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. Five reconciled deaths were reported by Kerala, which is seeing the highest number of Covid deaths and cases in the country.

    On April 11, 5,676 new positive cases were reported in the last 24 hours, while the country reported 21 deaths.

    According to the health ministry data, the active infections stand at 40,215. About 4,42,04,771 people have recovered, with the recovery rate rising to 98.72%. The fatality rate stands at 1.19%, the Union Health Ministry said.

    According to ministry sources, Covid cases may peak in the next 10-12 days and then gradually dip.

    ALSO READ | Serum Institute of India restarts manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccine Covishield

    The ministry said during the two-day mock drills, they also checked the infrastructure facilities, including isolation wards, oxygen-supported beds, ICUs and ICU-cum ventilators in the country in case of an emergency. A total of 1,070,765 beds are available in the country.  

    According to the health ministry, of 248,683 isolation beds, 218,789 were functional. Of the 335,795 oxygen-supported beds, 304,601 were available, while of the 94,999 ICU beds, 90,785 were found to be functional. The nationwide mock drill held on April 10 and 11 also showed that of the 60,994 ICU-cum-ventilator beds in the country, 54,040 functional beds were available.

    Among logistics, 86 percent of ventilators were found to be functional, while 94 percent of oxygen cylinders were available.

    According to Krishna Prasad N C, a Covid data analyst, Delhi (102%), Maharashtra (180%), Uttar Pradesh (128%), Chhattisgarh (184%), Punjab (115%) and Goa (103%) have reported a high number of Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours.

    Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, co-chairman of the National Indian Medical Association (IMA) Covid-19 task force, said there had been a steep rise in Covid-19 cases since April, and more patients are being admitted to hospitals now in Kerala. However, severe cases remain rare.

    The current rise in Covid cases is driven by XBB.1.16, a sub-variant of Omicron. Though Covid-19 cases are rising, hospitalisation is low, officials said.

    NEW DELHI: India has witnessed a 38 percent jump in new Covid-19 cases, with 7,830 new infections being reported in the last 24 hours, the highest since September 2 last year.

    As many as 16 deaths were reported in the country in the last 24 hours. There were two deaths each from Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. One death each was recorded from Gujarat, Haryana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. Five reconciled deaths were reported by Kerala, which is seeing the highest number of Covid deaths and cases in the country.

    On April 11, 5,676 new positive cases were reported in the last 24 hours, while the country reported 21 deaths.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    According to the health ministry data, the active infections stand at 40,215. About 4,42,04,771 people have recovered, with the recovery rate rising to 98.72%. The fatality rate stands at 1.19%, the Union Health Ministry said.

    According to ministry sources, Covid cases may peak in the next 10-12 days and then gradually dip.

    ALSO READ | Serum Institute of India restarts manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccine Covishield

    The ministry said during the two-day mock drills, they also checked the infrastructure facilities, including isolation wards, oxygen-supported beds, ICUs and ICU-cum ventilators in the country in case of an emergency. A total of 1,070,765 beds are available in the country.  

    According to the health ministry, of 248,683 isolation beds, 218,789 were functional. Of the 335,795 oxygen-supported beds, 304,601 were available, while of the 94,999 ICU beds, 90,785 were found to be functional. The nationwide mock drill held on April 10 and 11 also showed that of the 60,994 ICU-cum-ventilator beds in the country, 54,040 functional beds were available.

    Among logistics, 86 percent of ventilators were found to be functional, while 94 percent of oxygen cylinders were available.

    According to Krishna Prasad N C, a Covid data analyst, Delhi (102%), Maharashtra (180%), Uttar Pradesh (128%), Chhattisgarh (184%), Punjab (115%) and Goa (103%) have reported a high number of Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours.

    Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, co-chairman of the National Indian Medical Association (IMA) Covid-19 task force, said there had been a steep rise in Covid-19 cases since April, and more patients are being admitted to hospitals now in Kerala. However, severe cases remain rare.

    The current rise in Covid cases is driven by XBB.1.16, a sub-variant of Omicron. Though Covid-19 cases are rising, hospitalisation is low, officials said.

  • Half of India’s 45K Covid deaths in Kerala alone

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Over 45,000 Covid deaths have been reported in India till July 19, of which over 22 000 have been recorded alone from Kerala, which is showing a consistent increase in daily new cases and a high positivity rate for the past few months. Maharashtra, Assam, and Karnataka follow the southern state.

    Not only deaths, Kerala, has reported the highest number of cases in the country. Over 14 lakh cases have been reported in the state till July 19 this year, according to data shared by the union health ministry in the Lok Sabha. Maharashtra follows it with over 13 lakh cases.

    Karnataka follows with nearly 10 lakh cases, while Tamil Nadu has recorded almost 8 lakh Covid cases till July 19. Since January this year, 45,704 people have died of Covid; Kerala alone reported 22,843 deaths. In 2021, 44,399 people had died, while in 2020, 3,042 people succumbed to the infection in Kerala, as per data.

    The state was followed by Maharashtra (6,508), Assam (1,839), Karnataka (1,804), West Bengal ( 1,525), Tamil Nadu ( 1,265), Delhi (1,187), and Punjab (1,152).

    While Andhra Pradesh reported 240 deaths, Telangana has recorded 86 deaths due to Covid this year. Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadar and Nagar haveli, and Daman and Diu were the only places which didn’t report any death due to Covid in the country this year, according to the Minister of State of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar.

    Lakshadweep reported one death, while Ladakh recorded nine deaths. India, which has been seeing a surge in Covid cases since April after the Omicron-led third wave waned in March, has mainly seen the highest number of cases from seven states – Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Telangana, and Odisha.

    The Union health Ministry, on August 6, also wrote to these states and directed them to ensure adequate testing and promote Covid-appropriate behaviour as the coming days would likely witness mass gatherings due to various festivities, leading to large numbers of individuals undertaking intra and inter-state journeys or congregating at the same places.

    NEW DELHI: Over 45,000 Covid deaths have been reported in India till July 19, of which over 22 000 have been recorded alone from Kerala, which is showing a consistent increase in daily new cases and a high positivity rate for the past few months. Maharashtra, Assam, and Karnataka follow the southern state.

    Not only deaths, Kerala, has reported the highest number of cases in the country. Over 14 lakh cases have been reported in the state till July 19 this year, according to data shared by the union health ministry in the Lok Sabha. Maharashtra follows it with over 13 lakh cases.

    Karnataka follows with nearly 10 lakh cases, while Tamil Nadu has recorded almost 8 lakh Covid cases till July 19. Since January this year, 45,704 people have died of Covid; Kerala alone reported 22,843 deaths. In 2021, 44,399 people had died, while in 2020, 3,042 people succumbed to the infection in Kerala, as per data.

    The state was followed by Maharashtra (6,508), Assam (1,839), Karnataka (1,804), West Bengal ( 1,525), Tamil Nadu ( 1,265), Delhi (1,187), and Punjab (1,152).

    While Andhra Pradesh reported 240 deaths, Telangana has recorded 86 deaths due to Covid this year. Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadar and Nagar haveli, and Daman and Diu were the only places which didn’t report any death due to Covid in the country this year, according to the Minister of State of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar.

    Lakshadweep reported one death, while Ladakh recorded nine deaths. India, which has been seeing a surge in Covid cases since April after the Omicron-led third wave waned in March, has mainly seen the highest number of cases from seven states – Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Telangana, and Odisha.

    The Union health Ministry, on August 6, also wrote to these states and directed them to ensure adequate testing and promote Covid-appropriate behaviour as the coming days would likely witness mass gatherings due to various festivities, leading to large numbers of individuals undertaking intra and inter-state journeys or congregating at the same places.

  • No data on number of anganwadi workers who died due to Covid: Govt

    Anganwadi workers were at the forefront of tackling the pandemic as they supplied ration and essentials to children and pregnant and lactating women amid the Covid-induced lockdown.

  • Maharashtra, Manipur and Uttar Pradesh record highest number of COVID-19 deaths in 2020

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Maharashtra, followed by Manipur and Uttar Pradesh, have recorded the highest number of COVID-19 deaths in 2020, when 1.6 lakh people succumbed to the virus in the country. In 2020, the total number of registered deaths in the country was 81,15,882 of which 18,11,688 were medically certified deaths.

    According to the ‘Report on Medical Certification of Cause of Death 2020’, the highest deaths (29.4 per cent) due to the COVID-19 was reported for the age group 70 years or above followed by 55-64 years (23.9 per cent).

    As per recommendation of Indian Council of Medical Research, codes for covering deaths due to COVID-19 has first time recorded as a separate major cause group. Deaths reported due to COVID-19 has contribution of 8.9 per cent in total medically certified deaths.

    There were 1,60,618 COVID-19 deaths in 2020 of which 1,14,217 were male and 46,401 were female. As per the registered medically certified deaths in 2020, Maharashtra has recorded the highest percentage of medically certified covid deaths with 17.7 per cent followed by Manipur (15.7 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (15.0 per cent), Himachal Pradesh (13.5 per cent), Uttarakhand (12.8 per cent), Andhra Pradesh (12.0 per cent), Punjab (11.9 per cent) and Delhi (10.8 per cent).

    The report did not provide the actual number of COVID-19 deaths, state and Union Territory-wise. No medically certified COVID-19 death has been registered in Arunachal Pradesh and Lakshadweep during 2020.

    According to the Union Health Ministry, as on Thursday, a total of 5,24,525 covid deaths have been reported so far in the country, including 1,47,857 from Maharashtra, 69,643 from Kerala, 40,106 from Karnataka, 38,025 from Tamil Nadu, 26,207 from Delhi, 23,519 from Uttar Pradesh and 21,203 from West Bengal.

    The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities. As shown in the RGI data, the highest deaths (29.4 per cent) was reported for the age group 70 years or above followed by 55-64 years (23.9 per cent).

    The age group 65-69, having class interval of only 5 years have also reported significant number of deaths (14.5 per cent). The percentage of female deaths aged 34 years and below as well as for 55-64 years and 65-69 years, to total female deaths are on a higher side compared to corresponding figures for male.

    So far, 4,31,44,820 people were infected by coronavirus in India.

  • India reports 1,778 fresh cases of COVID-19, 62 deaths recorded

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: With 1,778 new coronavirus infections, India’s total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 4,30,12,749, while the number of active cases declined by over 800 to 23,087, according to the government data updated on Wednesday.

    The death toll has climbed to 5,16,605 with 62 new fatalities being reported in the last 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed. The active cases constitute 0.05 per cent of the total infections, while the country’s COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.75 per cent, the health ministry said.

    A reduction of 826 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in the last 24 hours. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.26 per cent and weekly positivity rate was also recorded at 0.36 per cent, according to the health ministry.

    The latest 24 hours saw a total of 6,77,218 COVID-19 tests being conducted. India has so far cumulatively conducted over 78.42 crore tests. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease rose to 4,24,73,057, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.20 per cent.

    The cumulative doses of in the country so far under the nationwide Covid vaccination drive has exceeded 181.89 crore.

  • COVID-19 deaths: Plea in SC wants deadline for seeking ex gratia payment

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court for setting a deadline of four weeks to claim the ex gratia payment from authorities on the death of kin due to COVID-19.

    The plea has been filed by the Centre in a PIL, which was earlier instituted by lawyer Gaurav Kumar Bansal, saying it may not be desirable to continue the process of ex gratia payment without any outer limit.

    The government has urged the apex court to determine a deadline before which the claimants of persons who died can approach authorities raising their claims.

    Though the fatality rate due to COVID-19 has substantially decreased, it may be desirable to direct that if any death takes place due to COVID-19 henceforth, the eligible claimant can move a competent authority within a period of four weeks from the death, the plea said.

    “Modify the order dated June 30, 2021 and other subsequent orders passed by this court in the captioned matter permitting any central agency to undertake sample scrutiny to verify the claimed documents processed by respective state governments for grant of ex gratia payment and take steps thereafter in accordance with the law.

    “Modify the order dated June 30, 2021 and other subsequent orders passed by this court in the captioned matter to the extent of declaring a time limit of four weeks,” the plea said.

    The apex court had earlier expressed concern over fake claims for getting ex gratia compensation of Rs 50,000, meant for family members of those who have lost their lives due to COVID-19, saying it had never visualised that this can be “misused” and had thought that the morality has not gone so down.

    The top court had earlier directed all states governments and Union Territories to appoint a dedicated nodal officer to coordinate with the member secretary of the state legal service authority (SLSA) to facilitate payment of ex gratia compensation to the family members of COVID-19 victims.

    The apex court, which was earlier annoyed over the non-disbursal of Rs 50,000 ex gratia to the kin/family members of those who lost their lives due to COVID-19, had pulled up the state governments.

    It had said on October 4 last year that no state shall deny ex gratia of Rs 50,000 to the next of kin of the of those who died after being infected with COVID-19 solely on the grounds that the death certificate does not mention the virus as the cause of death.

    The court had also said that the ex-gratia is to be disbursed within 30 days from the date of applying to the district disaster management authority or the district administration concerned along with the proof of the death of the deceased due to coronavirus and the cause of death being certified as died due to COVID-19.

    The top court had said that its directions for payment of compensation to the family members of the persons who died due to COVID-19 are very clear and there was no requirement at all of constituting the scrutiny committee to award compensation.

    It had said it was very much made clear that even in a case where, in the death certificate, the cause is not shown as death due to COVID-19 but if found that deceased was declared positive for coronavirus and has died within 30 days, automatically his or her family members are entitled to the compensation without any further conditions.

  • ‘Appears to be attempt to delay proceedings’: SC pulls up Gujarat government on disbursal of ex-gratia to kin of COVID victims

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to gather information from the States on the progress made on disbursal of ex-gratia compensation of Rs 50,000 to the kin of COVID-19 victims and pulled up the Gujarat government for issuing notification constituting a scrutiny committee contrary to its directions.

    A bench of Justices MR Shah and BV Nagarathna which sought to know from Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, as to how many people have got the payment, said he should collect the data from all the States, and a grievance redressal committee should be set up before the next date of hearing on November 29.

    The bench was hearing an application seeking quashing of the October 29 resolution issued by the health and family welfare department of the Gujarat government forming a ‘COVID-19 death ascertaining committee’.

    At the outset, Mehta, appearing for the Gujarat government, said that an amended resolution has been issued under the court’s direction of November 18 but it also needs some modification.

    The bench said it wants to know who has issued the first notification and accountability has to be fixed.

    Mehta said he is ready to take responsibility.

    Justice Shah said why the Solicitor General should take the responsibility.

    The concerned officer, who has drafted the notification, must take the responsibility, the judge said.

    Mehta said senior IAS officer Manoj Aggarwal of the State is connected to the virtual hearing and he will assist the court.

    The bench asked Aggarwal as to who had drafted the notification and whose brainchild was the document.

    Aggarwal, who is the Additional Chief Secretary, said the file goes through different departments and finally the competent authority gives the approval.

    The bench then asked in this case which is the competent authority.

    Aggarwal replied it is the Chief Minister.

    “Your chief minister may not know many things? Mr. Secretary, you are there for what? If this is your application of mind, then you don’t know anything. Do you understand our order? It appears to be a bureaucratic attempt to delay the proceedings,” the bench observed.

    Mehta said that there are genuine concerns about fake claims being made and that’s why a scrutiny committee was constituted to ascertain the claims.

    The bench said, “This court has never asked for the setting up of a scrutiny committee. It will take more than a year for genuine victims to get their claims and get a certificate from the scrutiny committee. Kin of victims are required to come with a certificate from hospitals but which hospital has been giving the certificate for COVID deaths”.

    The bench said that at least 10,000 people have died according to the data of the State and just because false claims are being made, does not mean the genuine persons will have to suffer.

    Justice Nagarathna said that the death certificates are issued by the government department itself than how they can be forged.

    Mehta said that the notification was drafted in an idiotic manner and assured the bench that a modified one will be passed soon.

    The bench said at least 10,000 persons should get the ex-gratia and warned that it would appoint legal service authority members as Ombudsman like it was during the Gujarat earthquake for disbursal of compensation.

    It asked Mehta to ensure that by that time disbursal of ex-gratia should continue to those whose records are found genuine and are with the government.

    On November 18, the top court had pulled up the Gujarat government for issuing a notification which is “just contrary” to the directions given regarding ex-gratia to the next of kin of those who died due to COVID-19 and said an attempt has been made to “overreach” the directions issued by the apex court.

    The top court had on October 4 said that no state shall deny the ex-gratia compensation of Rs 50,000 to the next of kin of the deceased due to COVID-19 solely on the ground that the death certificate does not mention the virus as the cause of death.

    The court had also said that the ex-gratia is to be disbursed within 30 days from the date of applying to the concerned district disaster management authority or the district administration along with the proof of the death of the deceased due to coronavirus and the cause of death being certified as “died due to COVID-19”.

    The top court had said that its directions for payment of compensation to the family members of the persons, who died due to COVID-19, are very clear and there was “no requirement at all” of constituting the scrutiny committee to award compensation.

    The bench had said it was very much made clear that even in a case, wherein the death certificate the cause is not shown as death due to COVID-19 but if found that deceased was declared positive for coronavirus and has died within 30 days, automatically his or her family members are entitled to the compensation without any further conditions.

  • India records 11,919 fresh cases of COVID-19, 470 more fatalities

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: With 11,919 fresh cases, India’s COVID-19 tally has climbed to 3,44,78,517, while the number of active cases has gone up to 1,28,762, the Union health ministry said on Thursday. The death toll due to the viral disease has shot up to 4,64,623 with 470 more fatalities, according to the ministry’s data updated at 8 am.

    The daily rise in the number of coronavirus cases has been below 20,000 for 41 straight days now and less than 50,000 fresh cases have been reported for 144 consecutive days. The number of active cases of the infection has gone up to 1,28,762, accounting for 0.37 per cent of the total caseload, the lowest since March 2020, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.

    The ministry said that 28 per cent, the highest since March 2020. An increase of 207 cases in the active COVID-19 caseload was recorded in a span of 24 hours, it added. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.97 per cent. It has been less than two per cent for 45 consecutive days. The weekly positivity rate was recorded at 0.94 per cent.

    It has been below two per cent for the last 55 days, according to the health ministry. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has climbed to 3,38,85,132, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.35 per cent.

    The total number of vaccine doses administered in the country under the nationwide COVID inoculation drive has exceeded 114.46 crore. 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, 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and the one-crore mark on December 19 last year. The country crossed the grim milestone of two crore Covid cases on May 4 this year and the three-crore mark on June 23.

    The 470 fresh fatalities caused by Covid include 388 from Kerala and 32 from Maharashtra.

    Of the 388 fatalities in Kerala, 61 were reported over the last few days and the remaining 327 were designated as COVID-19 deaths after receiving appeals based on the new guidelines of the Centre and Supreme Court directions, according to a release issued by the state government.

    A total of 4,64,623 deaths due to the viral disease have so far been reported in the country, including 1,40,668 from Maharashtra, 38,161 from Karnataka, 36,475 from Kerala, 36,324 from Tamil Nadu, 25,095 from Delhi, 22,909 from Uttar Pradesh and 19,341 from West Bengal.

    The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities. “Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research,” the ministry said on its website, adding that a state-wise distribution of the figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.

  • India’s active coronavirus tally lowest in 266 days, death toll at 4,62,189 with 340 fresh fatalities

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India added 13,091 new coronavirus infections in a span of 24 hours taking the country’s total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,44,01,670, while the active cases declined to 1,38,556, the lowest in 266 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.

    The death toll climbed to 4,62,189 with 340 fresh fatalities, according to the data updated at 8 am.

    The daily rise in new coronavirus infections has been below 20,000 for 34 straight days and less than 50,000 daily new cases have been reported for 137 consecutive days now.

    The active cases comprise 0.40 per cent of the total infections, the lowest since March 2020, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.

    25 per cent, the highest since March 2020, the ministry said.

    A decrease of 1,127 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

    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 on May 4 and three crore on June 23.