India Covid Cases: The total recoveries have reached 4,24,26,328.
New Delhi: With 3,614 fresh cases, the lowest since May 12, 2020, India's COVID-19 tally has climbed to 4,29,87,875, while the number of active cases of the infection has dipped to 40,559, the Union health ministry said today.
The number of deaths due to the viral disease has gone up to 5,15,803 with 89 more fatalities, according to the ministry's data updated at 8 am.
The active cases account for 0.09 per cent of the total caseload, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has further improved to 98.71 per cent, the ministry said.
Here are the Highlights on coronavirus cases in India: Get NDTV UpdatesTurn on notifications to receive alerts as this story develops .
France Offers Covid Vaccine Fourth Dose To People Over 80s France is offering a fourth dose of a coronavirus vaccine to people older than 80 who had their booster more than three months ago, the prime minister said Saturday.
Jean Castex told Le Parisian newspaper that they were nevertheless recommended to keep wearing a face mask as France relaxes its Covid-19 restrictions.
The European nation is on Monday to drop the vaccine pass, proof that someone has been triple vaccinated against the illness, which until now was required to enter public spaces such as cinemas or restaurants.
A similar pass will however be needed to go to a hospital or a retirement home in order to protect the most vulnerable.
Masks will from March 14 only be required on public transport, and no longer be necessary at work or in school.
Sikkim reports one new COVID case, one more fatality Sikkim's COVID-19 caseload rose to 39,103 as one more person tested positive for the disease in the last 24 hours, a health department bulletin said.
One more fatality due to the infection raised the count to 446, it said.
East Sikkim logged the lone fresh case.
Sikkim now has 22 active cases, while 746 COVID patients have migrated to other states and 37,889 people recovered from the disease.
The Himalayan state has conducted over 3.28 lakh sample tests for COVID-19 so far, including 197 in the last 24 hours.
Kerala reports 1,088 new COVID-19 cases Kerala has reported 1,088 new COVID-19 cases and one death in the last 24 hours.
With this, the active cases in the state now stand at 9,530. As many as 2,037 recoveries from the virus were also reported, according to the state health bulletin.
The Kerala government has also added four deaths to the COVID deaths which were not added due to lack of documents along with 26 deaths as per new guidelines of the central government.
The total Covid death count in Kerala stands at 66,793.
The bulletin said the state tested 22,050 samples in the last 24 hours.
Assam reports one new COVID-19 case after gap of two days, tally at 7,24,171 Assam on Saturday reported one new COVID-19 case, which took the tally to 7,24,171, a National Health Mission (NHM) bulletin said.
The fresh infection was recorded after a gap of two days as the northeastern state did not report any coronavirus case on Thursday and Friday.
The new case was detected from 1,376 sample tests conducted during the day.
The death count remained at 6,639 as no new fatality due to the infection was reported, the bulletin said.
As many as 1,347 COVID patients have died due to other reasons, it said.
Over 180 Crore Covid Vaccine Doses Administered In India So Far: Centre
The cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 180 crore on Saturday, the Union health ministry said.
In a tweet on the vaccination milestone, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said, "The figure of 180 crore vaccine doses crossed. Powered by spirit of Jan-Bhagidari (public participation), the world's largest vaccination drive is touching new heights under PM Narendra Modi Ji's leadership. Keep following COVID appropriate behaviour even after getting vaccinated."
More than 17 lakh (17,82,501) vaccine doses had been administered till 7 pm on Saturday, the health ministry said.
The daily vaccination tally is expected to increase with the compilation of the final reports for the day by late night, it said.
Cumulatively, 96,70,88,980 first doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered and 81,27,51,251 second doses have been given, the ministry said.
"India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has crossed 180 crore landmark milestone (1,80,10,69,235) today," it said.
Maharashtra Records 324 COVID-19 Cases
Maharashtra on Saturday recorded 324 new coronavirus infections and two pandemic-related deaths, the health department said. The state's COVID-19 caseload rose to 78,70,951, and deaths reached 1,43,752.
Mumbai and Pune cities recorded 31 and 70 new infections but no deaths.
Of the eight administrative circles (each comprising several districts), the Pune circle recorded 149 new coronavirus cases, followed by Mumbai (70), Nashik (56), Akola (14), Aurangabad (six), Kolhapur and Latur (five each) and Nagpur (19).
A person from Panvel near Mumbai and another from Ahmednagar district died of COVID-19 since previous evening.
The case fatality rate in Maharashtra is now 1.82 per cent. As many as 525 patients recovered since previous evening, taking the number of recovered people to 77,20,474. The recovery rate in the state is 98.09 per cent.
1,088 COVID-19 Cases, 31 Deaths In Kerala
Kerala reported 1,088 new COVID-19 cases and 31 related deaths on Saturday and took the total infected to 65,20,213 and death count of fatalities to 66,793 so far.
Of the 31, one was reported in the last 24 hours, four occurred in the last few days but were not recorded because of late receipt of documents and 26 were designated as COVID-19 deaths after receiving appeals based on the new guidelines of the Centre and the directions of the Supreme Court, said an official press release.
The Department of Health said in a press release that 22,050 samples were tested in the last 24 hours.
Among the districts, Ernakulam recorded the most cases with 217 followed by Kottayam with 145 and Kozhikode with 107.
Made COVID Vaccination Drive Movement In Tamil Nadu: Minister
Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma. Subramanian has said that they have made COVID vaccination drive a movement in the state which eventually led to the improved situation regarding the pandemic.
"Our Government have made vaccination drive a movement in Tamil Nadu," Mr Subramanian said at a press conference.
"13,36,124 persons are still to get second dose vaccination in Tamil Nadu and we Health Department are in process to collect the list of those yet to get the second dose and send messages to them to get vaccinated," said Mr Subramanian.
Showing concern over people's hesitation in getting vaccinated, he remarked, "Although corona numbers have reduced still fear of the virus prevails."
Seeing the latest analytics of no Covid deaths in the state on Friday, he displayed confidence in preparation for any further wave of the pandemic.#
India's Cumulative COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Crosses 179.91 Crore With the administration of more than 18.18 lakh vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India's cumulative COVID-19 vaccination coverage exceeded 179.91 crores on Saturday, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The number was achieved through 2,10,32,993 sessions of vaccination. As per the provisional report of Covid vaccination doses coverage, till 7 am on Saturday, 2,11,51,469 Precaution doses have been given to the citizens of age more than 60 years, which included 42,99,668 to the Health Care Workers (HCWs), and 65,26,610 to the Frontline Workers (FLWs).
Apart from Precaution Dose, this 1,79,91,57,486 vaccine doses include "1,04,02,528 (1st doses) and 99,83,044 (2nd doses) taken by the HCWs. As many as 1,84,11,281 FLWs have taken their 1st doses while 1,74,74,281 have taken their 2nd dose of coronavirus vaccine.
Tamil Nadu Reports Zero COVID-19 Death For First Time In 2 Years
Tamil Nadu recorded zero death due to COVID-19 for the first time in the past two years as the state recorded 112 new coronavirus cases and zero deaths on Friday, state's Health Secretary J. Radhakrishnan said on Saturday.
"There were zero COVID-19 deaths in Tamil Nadu on Friday and cases have also decreased gradually. Until the next advice of experts, people should follow the protocols without fail. I appeal people to take vaccines without fail," Ms Radhakrishnan said as he applauded people's cooperation and dedication in following the COVID protocol that led to the fall in the cases.
He also reviewed the COVID vaccination drive in the Omandurar Medical College in Chennai.
"To get full victory all should get vaccinated. Vaccination is the only solution for viruses and to improve immunity," he said while appealing to people to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Odisha records lowest Covid cases since March 2021
Odisha 83 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, the lowest single-day spike in a year for the second consecutive day, while three more patients have died due to the pathogen, the Health Department said.
There are 977 active COVID-19 cases, which fell below the 1,000 mark after March 23 last year.
The daily positivity rate was 0.18 per cent and 22 children were among the newly infected, it said, adding that 46,459 samples were tested in the past 24 hours, a bulletin stated.
On March 17 last year, the cases were lower than the current single-day count when there were 82 infections. The state had logged 104 infections and two fatalities on Friday.
The deaths rose to 9,108 with three more fatalities in Sundargarh. These are confirmed as Covid deaths after an audit.
Puducherry logged only one new coronavirus case on Saturday, raising the overall tally to 1,65,758. The sole case was confined to Puducherry while the other three outlying regions of Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam reported zero case of viral infection. The single case was identified at the end of examination of 511 samples. The active cases were 20 and all these cases were in home quarantine while hospitals had zero number of patients with Covid-19. Puducherry logged only one new coronavirus case on Saturday, raising the overall tally to 1,65,758.
The sole case was confined to Puducherry while the other three outlying regions of Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam reported zero case of viral infection.
The single case was identified at the end of examination of 511 samples. The active cases were 20 and all these cases were in home quarantine while hospitals had zero number of patients with Covid-19.
India's Daily COVID-19 Cases Lowest Since May 12, 2020 With 3,614 fresh cases, the lowest since May 12, 2020, India's COVID-19 tally has climbed to 4,29,87,875, while the number of active cases of the infection has dipped to 40,559, the Union health ministry said today.
COVID-19: Thane district reports 15 new cases, zero death With the addition of 15 coronavirus positive cases, the infection count in Thane district of Maharashtra rose to 7,08,574, an official said on Saturday.
These cases were reported on Friday, he said.