India adds over 17,000 new COVID cases, highest in 53 days

India reports 17,407 new Covid-19 cases, 14,031 discharges and 89 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per the health ministry.

Total cases now stand at 1,11,39,516, total discharges at 1,08,26,075 . The death toll has jumped to 1,57,435, while active cases are 1,73,413.

A total of 21,91,78,908 samples tested for Covid-19 up to 3rd March 2021. Of these, 7,75,631 samples were tested yesterday according to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Additionally, India has vaccinated 1,66,16,048 so far, according to the latest data shared by the health ministry on Thursday.

The total number of cases with UK, South Africa and Brazil variants of Covid virus in the country now at 242.

Meanwhile,the first tranche of 500k doses arrived this morning in Canada from Serum Institute of India with 1.5 million more doses to follow. We look forward to future collaboration, says Anita Anand, Canadian minister of public services and procurement.