COVID-19 cases decline, India reports 1.86 lakh new cases in single-day, lowest in past 44 days

NEW DELHI: In a significant decline in COVID-19 cases, India recorded 1.86 lakh new cases of coronavirus infections across the country in the past 24 hours. The cumulative caseload now stands at 2,75,55,457, the Health Ministry data showed on Friday.

The COVID-19 fatality count has also dipped in the last 24 hours as compared to yesterday with 3,660 people succumbing to the disease. The number stood at 3,847 on Thursday. The cumulative death toll in the country has reached 3,18,895.

According to the Union Health Ministry data, at 1.86 lakh cases, this marks a significant declining trend in new COVID cases and the daily new cases are lowest in the last 44 days.

“At 1.86 lakh cases, a declining trend in new cases continues. Daily new cases are lowest in the last 44 days. Active caseload further declines to 23,43,152 with active cases decrease by 76,755 in last 24 hours,’’ the Union Health Ministry said.

As per the Union Health Ministry data, 2,59,459 patient recoveries were reported during the last 24 hours and a total of 2,48,93,410 patients have recovered in the country so far. 

The country’s COVID-19 recovery rate has also increased to 90.34%, the Ministry said. “Weekly positivity rate currently at 10.42% & daily positivity rate at 9.00%, less than 10% for 4 consecutive days,’’ it added.

Further, a total of 20.57 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far, the Union Health Ministry said. "The country has so far administered 20,57,20,660 anti-Covid jabs. Out of these, 29,19,699 vaccines were given in the last 24 hours," the data showed.

India has tested 33,90,39,861 samples for Covid-19 until now, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Out of these, 20,70,508 samples were tested on Thursday, a slight decline as compared to the day before when the number stood at 21,57,857.

India will be able to give one crore vaccines a day in a few weeks with due preparation, NITI Aayog member (Health) VK Paul has said.

"We'll have to prepare to give one crore doses in a day. It will be possible in few weeks, we will have to prepare. We made possible 43 lakh doses in a day. We should bring it up to 73 lakh in the next three weeks. We should make a system to achieve it," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

The central government has stated that India is witnessing a downswing in the second wave of Covid-19. Addressing a press conference, Paul said the country continues to note stabilisation of the second wave in most parts, both by the number of cases and positivity rate.

Despite this, all states and union territories have been asked to extend the Covid-related guidelines till 30 June.