India recorded 2,85,914 new coronavirus cases today, 11.7 per cent higher than yesterday's 2.55 lakh figure. The total infection tally in India - the second worst-hit country after the US - has crossed 4 crore cases, according to Union Health Ministry data.
The active cases in India now comprise 5.55 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate marginally increased to 93.23 per cent. The active cases presently stand at 22,23,018.
The daily positivity rate, which is the share of coronavirus tests that return positive -- considered to be a key marker of the pandemic's status -- has marginally risen to 16.16 per cent from yesterday's 15.5 per cent, while the weekly positivity rate was recorded at 17.33 per cent.
The country also added 665 fresh fatalities in the past 24 hours, taking the Covid-related death count since the start of the pandemic to 4,91,127.
Here are the Highlights on coronavirus cases in India:
The world's first medical trial authorised to deliberately expose participants to the coronavirus is seeking more volunteers as it steps up efforts to help develop better vaccines.
Maharashtra tourism minister Aaditya Thackeray on Wednesday said the chief minister will review the coronavirus situation next week and take decision about reopening tourist places and monuments in the state.
He was speaking to reporters after holding a meeting of tourism department officials here.
"Covid infection figures in Aurangabad have not yet come down much. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will review the situation next week and decide about opening the monuments and tourist places," Aaditya Thackeray said.
Fifty four per cent of Delhiites are in favour of lifting the odd-even restrictions in markets but want the weekend curfew to continue till the positivity rate declines to five per cent, a survey has claimed.
Delhi had seen an uptick in COVID-19 infections, mainly triggered by the Omicron variant, but the cases have seen a decline over the last 10 days.
The coronavirus caseload in Gujarat on Wednesday crossed the 11 lakh-mark with addition of 14,781 new cases, the state health department said.
The tally of infections in the state reached 11,07,749.
With 21 patients succumbing to the viral infection during the day, the death toll reached 10,323.
Delhi today logged 7,498 fresh Covid cases, a jump of over 24 per cent over yesterday's cases (6,028), and 29 Covid deaths. The positivity rate was at 10.59 per cent.
Mumbai reported 1,858 new coronavirus infections and 13 deaths on Wednesday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said in a release.
The city has been reporting fewer than 2,000 cases for the last three days.
The caseload of the financial capital of the country went up to 10,40,363, while death toll rose to 16,569.
The Omicron variant of coronavirus can remain alive on skin for over 21 hours, and more than eight days on plastic surfaces, which may be contributing to its faster spread compared to other strains, a study claims.
The number of active Covid-19 cases in Delhi has halved in just 12 days after rising to a high of 94,160 on January 13, while it took 21 days for the active caseload to drop by half during the second wave last year.
The third wave of the pandemic saw the active cases peaking to 94,160 on January 13. The number dropped to 42,010 by Tuesday.
During the ferocious second wave last year, active cases had risen to a high of 99,752 on April 28 and the number reduced to 45,047 by May 19.
The price of Covishield and Covaxin, the Covid vaccines which are expected to soon get regular market approval from India's drug regulator, is likely to be capped at Rs 275 per dose plus an additional service charge of Rs 150, official sources said.
According to them, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has been directed to start working towards capping the price to make the vaccines affordable.
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- Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) January 26, 2022
देश के प्रति ज़िम्मेदारी हो या कोरोना के खिलाफ़ जंग, सभी के प्रयासों को शत शत नमन। स्वास्थ्य एवं परिवार कल्याण मंत्रालय की तरफ से गणतंत्र दिवस पर सभी देशवासियों को हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं।@PMOIndia @mansukhmandviya @ianuragthakur @DrBharatippawar pic.twitter.com/b7SFvO2uQp
The findings of an investigation into gatherings at British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's office that may have broken COVID-19 lockdown laws will be published soon, Foreign Minister Liz Truss said on Wednesday.
An internal inquiry into allegations of lockdown parties at Johnson's offices could be published as soon as Wednesday, delivering findings that might determine the Prime Minister's future. Police have also launched an investigation.
Leading the 73rd Republic Day celebrations in Kerala, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Wednesday said as the largest democracy in the world, India's voyage has been steered by modern ideas of governance, the urge to ensure equality and justice and firm resolve to defend against all forms of aggression.
Despite the pandemic spread, the nation has displayed tremendous resilience and capability, scope of synergy and leadership in every sphere and our spirit of patriotism and pride in our march towards the pinnacle of prosperity and power are boundless, he said.
India reported 2,85,914 new Covid cases in the last 24 hours, while its active caseload stands at 22,23,018. The daily positivity rate is at 16.16%.
President Joe Biden's administration on Tuesday formally withdrew the Covid vaccination-or-testing mandate for large businesses that was struck down by the Supreme Court.
The conservative-dominated Supreme Court delivered a blow to Biden this month when it blocked his vaccination-or-testing mandate for businesses with 100 employees or more.
Delhi's positivity rate has dropped to 10.55 per cent from 11.79 per cent, the government data this evening showed. The cases have risen by 4.7 per cent to 6,028.