COVID-19 LIVE: At least 39 Covid-related deaths reported in India in the last 24 hours.
India on Thursday reported a total of 15,754 new coronavirus cases, pushing the cumulative figure to 4,43,14,618,
According to the health ministry, the death count increased to 5,27,253 with 39 more fatalities in the last 24 hours.
The active cases stand at 1,01,830. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,36,85,535.
Here are the Highlights on coronavirus cases in India:
Scientists Discover "Weak Spot" Across All Major Covid Variants: Study
A team led by an Indian-origin researcher has discovered a key vulnerability across all major variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, including the recently emerged BA.1 and BA.2 Omicron subvariants.
The weakness can be targeted by neutralising antibodies, potentially paving the way for treatments that would be universally effective across variants, the researchers said.
The study, published on Thursday in the journal Nature Communications, used cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to reveal the atomic-level structure of the vulnerable spot on the virus' spike protein, known as an epitope -or part to which an antibody attaches itself.
Spike protein is used by the SARS-CoV-2 virus to enter and infect human cells. The researchers also described an antibody fragment called VH Ab6 that is able to attach to this site and neutralise each major variant.
Mumbai Reports 1,011 Covid Cases, 2 Deaths
Mumbai on Friday reported 1,011 new coronavirus infections and two Covid-related deaths, civic officials said.
The city reported more than 1,000 cases on the second day. On Thursday, Mumbai reported 1,201 new Covid cases and two deaths.
The tally of Covid cases in Mumbai rose to 11,36,691, while the total death count increased to 19,672.
As many as 13,468 coronavirus tests were conducted since the previous evening. The total of tests rose to 1,79,93,838.
A day before, 11,253 Covid tests had been conducted in the city.
Mumbai's tally of recovered patients rose to 11,11,167 with 869 patients recovering during the day.
Delhi Reports 1,417 Covid Cases, 3 Deaths
Delhi on Friday recorded 1,417 fresh Covid cases, with a reduced positivity rate of 7.53 per cent and three death due to the viral disease, according to data shared by the city health department.
With this, Delhi's coronavirus case count went up to 19,91,772 and the total death count to 26,411, according to the latest bulletin.
Delhi on Thursday had recorded 1,964 fresh Covid cases with a test positivity rate of 9.42 per cent, and eight deaths.
The fresh cases came out of 18,829 tests conducted the previous day, the bulletin said.
Telangana Reports 450 New Covid Cases
Telangana on Friday recorded 450 new Covid cases, taking the tally to 8,31,265 so far.
Hyderabad district saw most of the cases at 220.
A Health Department bulletin said 476 people recuperated from the infection and the cumulative number of recoveries was 8,24,360 till date.
The recovery rate stood at 99.17 per cent.
No fresh fatality due to the infectious disease occurred and the total death count continued to be 4,111.
Gujarat Reports 374 Covid Cases, Active Cases Down To 2,935
Gujarat reported 374 Covid cases in the last 24 hours, taking the tally to 12,67,292, while the total death count remained unchanged at 10,996, a state health department official said on Friday.
The recovery count increased by 441 and touched 12,53,361, leaving the state with an active caseload of 2,935, down from 3,012 a day earlier, he said.
Ahmedabad led with 144 new cases, followed by 51 in Vadodara, 21 in Mehsana, among other districts, he said.
Maharashtra Reports 2,285 New Covid Cases, 5 Deaths
Maharashtra on Friday reported 2,285 new Covid cases and five fresh deaths linked to the infection, while 2,237 more patients recovered in the state, said the health department.
With this, the overall tally of Covid cases in Maharashtra jumped to 80,80,696, while the total death count increased to 1,48,191, said the department in a bulletin.
A day ago, the state had reported 2,246 Covid cases and six fatalities due to the illness.
Odisha Reports 385 New Covid Cases
Odisha's Covid tally rose to 13,24,454 on Friday as 385 more people, including 58 children, tested positive for the virus, a health department bulletin said.
The state's coronavirus death count rose to 9,161 after another patient died due to the disease.
The state had logged 482 infections and a fatality on Thursday.
The bulletin said that 53 other Covid patients have died due to comorbidities so far.
Odisha now has 2,791 active cases.
Mizoram Reports 158 New Covid Cases, Positivity Rate Above 20%
Mizoram reported 158 new Covid cases on Friday, eight more than the previous day, raising the tally to 2,35,840, a health official said.
The state's coronavirus total death count remained unchanged at 717, with no fatalities reported in the last 24 hours, the official said.
The single-day positivity rate increased to 23.69 per cent from 18.19 per cent on Thursday, he said.
Mizoram now has 766 active Covid cases, while 2,34,357 people have recovered from the infection, including 142 on Thursday.