Covid-19: India records 46,759 fresh cases, 509 deaths

India reported 46,759 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the tally to 3,26,49,947. The death toll rose to 4,37,370 with 509 fresh fatalities, according to Union health ministry data on August 28. The active cases comprise 1.10% of the total infections. An increase of 14,876 cases has been recorded in the active caseload in a span of 24 hours. India’s active caseload is currently 3,59, 775.

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 stands at 2.19% and has been below 3% for the last 64 days, the ministry said. While, the daily positivity rate stands at 2.66%. It has been less than 3% for the last 33 days, according to the ministry.

The number of people who have recovered from the disease rose to 3,18,52,802 with the recovery rate at 97.56%, data from the health ministry showed.

Deaths and fatalities

From the total of 4,37,370 deaths reported in the country, 1,36,900 were from Maharashtra, 37,248  from Karnataka, 34,835 from Tamil Nadu, 25,080 from Delhi, 22,796 from Uttar Pradesh, 20,313 from Kerala and 18,410 from West Bengal. The 509 new fatalities include 179 from Maharashtra and 170 from Kerala.

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

Covid-19 tests and vaccination drive

As many as 17,61,110 Covid-19 tests were conducted on Friday, taking the total number of tests done so far in the country to 51,68,87,602.

Also, 62.29 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses have been administered cumulatively under the nationwide vaccination drive.