Covid update: 25,404 new cases in the last 24 hours

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India has reported 25,404 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours. The total recoveries across the country so far are 3,24,84,159.  According to the health ministry’s data, 37,127 patients recovered during the last 24 hours. The active caseload is currently at 3,62,207 with a cumulative total of more than 3.32 crore cases. The national recovery rate of Covid-19 has increased to 97.58% with 37,127 patients recovering during the last 24 hours till 8:00 am. The active cases account for less than 2% of total cases, currently at 1.09%.

The weekly positivity rate stands at 2.07%, less than 3% for the last 81 days. The daily positivity rate was reported to be less than 3% at 1.78% for the last 15 days.

The testing capacity has also been substantially ramped up to 54.44 crore in the country.

India’s vaccination drive

Cumulative vaccine doses administered so far have reached 75.22 crores. In the month of August, more than 18.3 crore doses have been administered.

The new phase of universalisation of the vaccination programme commenced from June 21. Under the programme, the central government made inoculation free of cost for all adults. Vaccines were earlier free for people above 45 years of age.

According to the ministry, more than 70% of the deaths that have been reported are due to comorbidities.

Drones for vaccine delivery

On September 13, the civil aviation ministry granted conditional permission to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to use drones beyond the visual line of sight in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Manipur and Nagaland to deliver vaccines. The ICMR has been permitted to use drones up to a height of 3,000 metres to deliver vaccines, the ministry’s statement added.