16,838 new coronavirus infections in India, 113 deaths in last 24 hours

As many as 16,838 new Covid-19 cases and 113 deaths were reported in India in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry informed on Friday. With 13,819 new discharges, the cumulative recoveries reached 1,08,39,894.

The country’s coronavirus tally has reached 1,11,73,761 including 1,76,319 active infections while the death toll has mounted to 1,57,548.

Delhi recorded 261 new coronavirus cases and one fresh fatality on Thursday which pushed the death toll in the city to 10,915, authorities said. This is also the highest number of daily cases reported in the city, at least since February beginning.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra, the worst-affected state by the Covid-19 pandemic in India, reported 8,998 new cases of the virus on Thursday. According to data given by the health department, the state recorded 60 deaths due to coronavirus in the last 24 hours.

The state’s tally of Covid-19 cases has reached 21,88,183, with 85,144 active cases.
Five states — Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Karnataka — reported a surge in new Covid cases; cumulatively accounting for 85.51 per cent of the new cases reported, the Union health ministry said on Thursday.

The cumulative number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in India has crossed 1.77 crore, the Union Health Ministry said on Thursday. A total of 1,77,11,287 vaccine doses have been given, as per the provisional report till Thursday 7 pm.

These include 68,38,077 healthcare workers, who have taken the first dose and 30,82,942 healthcare workers who have taken the second dose, 60,22,136 frontline workers (first dose), 54,177 FLWs (second dose), 14,95,016 beneficiaries over 60 years and 2,18,939 individuals aged 45 and above with specific comorbidities, the ministry said.

The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers (HCWs) getting inoculated and vaccination of frontline workers (FLWs) starting from February 2.

The next phase of Covid-19 vaccination commenced from March for those above 60 years of age and for people aged 45 and above with specified comorbid conditions.