India's COVID-19 active caseload dropped to 3,81,947 as of Monday, the lowest in 145 days, even as it reported 32,937 new cases in the last 24 hours, according to the latest update by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry.
The COVID-19 active cases now constitute 1.18 per cent of the 3,22,25,513 total confirmed cases, the lowest since March 2020, as the recovery rate improved to 97.48 per cent, the highest since March 2020, the ministry said in a release.
A total of 3,14,11,924 recoveries have been reported till date, as 35,909 more patients from across the country recovered in the last 24 hours, as per the release.
However, 417 more patients succumbed to the disease in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 4,31,642 as of early Monday.
As the COVID-19 surge appears to wane, India’s weekly positivity rate remains below five per cent, currently at 2.01 per cent, while the daily positivity rate fell to 2.79 per cent; less than three per cent for last 21 days
Meanwhile, in view of the looming third wave of the pandemic over the country, testing capacity has been substantially ramped up. A total of over 49.48 crore tests have been conducted so far.
COVID-19 vaccination has also been strongly advocated across the country. A total of 54.58 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far under the Nationwide Vaccination Drive.
The Union Health Ministry stated in a release that the vaccination drive has been ramped up through availability of more vaccines, advance visibility of vaccine availability to States and UTs for enabling better planning by them, and streamlining the vaccine supply chain.
As part of the nationwide vaccination drive, Government of India has been supporting the States and UTs by providing them COVID Vaccines free of cost. In the new phase of the universalization of the COVID19 vaccination drive, the Union Government will procure and supply (free of cost) 75% of the vaccines being produced by the vaccine manufacturers in the country to States and UTs, the ministry stated.
The ministry also informed that 56,81,14,630 vaccine doses have been provided to states/UTs so far, through all sources. Of this, the total consumption, including wastages, is 54,22,75,723 doses (as per data available at 8 AM today).
A total of 2,89,47,890 balance and unutilized COVID Vaccine doses are still available with the states/UTs and private hospitals to be administered, the ministry added.
