Covid-19: India records 35,178 cases, 440 deaths

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India has reported over 35,178 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the tally to 3,22,85,857. The death toll rose to 4,32,519 with 440 daily fatalities, according to the Union health ministry data on August 18. The active cases constitute 1.14% of total cases which is the lowest since March 2020. India’s active caseload is currently 3,67,415, the lowest in 148 days.

India’s Covid-19 tally had crossed the grim milestone of the one-crore mark on December 19, 2020. By May 4, it had crossed two crores and as of June 23, the number of cases had risen to three crores.

The weekly positivity rate was recorded at 1.95%, while the daily positivity rate was recorded at 1.96% and has been less than 3% for the last 23 days, data stated. Around 37,169 patients recovered during the last 24 hours.

The number of people who have recovered from the disease rose to 3,14,85,923 with the recovery rate at 97.52%, data from the health ministry showed.

Covid-19 tests and vaccination drive

The testing capacity has substantially ramped up to 49.84 crore tests total conducted.

India’s Covid-19 vaccination coverage crossed the 56 crore landmark on August 17. Cumulatively, 56,06,52,030 vaccine doses have been administered through 62,67,149 sessions, as per the provisional report till 7 am today. 55,05,075 vaccine doses were administered in the last 24 hours.

The new phase of universalization of Covid-19 vaccination had commenced from 21st June 2021. The Union Government is committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of Covid-19 vaccination throughout the country.

Cumulatively, 20,50,08,400 persons in the age group 18-44 years across 37 states and UTs have received their first dose and a total of 1,66,57,465 have received their second dose since the start of Phase-3 of the vaccination drive. Five states namely Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh have administered more than 1 crore cumulative doses of Covid-19 vaccine in the age group 18-44 years. Also, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Haryana, Jharkhand, Kerala, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Uttarakhand and West Bengal have vaccinated more than 10 lakh beneficiaries of the age group 18-44 years for the first dose of Covid vaccine.