India recorded a single-day rise of 10,929 new COVID-19 cases today, taking the country's infection tally to 3,43,44,683, while 392 fresh fatalities were recorded in the same 24-hour time period, pushing the total death count in the country to 4,60,265.
The daily rise in new coronavirus infections has been below 20,000 for 29 straight days and less than 50,000 daily new cases have been reported for 132 consecutive days now.
The daily positivity rate was recorded at 1.35 per cent. It has been less than two per cent for last 33 days. The weekly positivity rate was also recorded at 1.27 per cent. It has been below two per cent for the last 42 days, according to the ministry.
The cumulative doses administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive has exceeded 107.92 crore.
Here are the Highlights on Coronavirus Cases In India:
Russia on Saturday reported a record number of daily coronavirus cases as the country reaches the end of a nationwide paid holiday introduced to curb the spread of infections, reported news agency AFP.
Saturday's official tally registered 41,335 new cases in the past 24 hours, the highest number for new infections since the beginning of the pandemic.
The country also reported 1,188 coronavirus deaths during the same period.
The coronavirus situation marginally improved in Assam on Saturday with the state registering 239 new infections, same as Friday's daily count, and two fresh COVID-19 fatalities, three less than the previous day.
The new cases and deaths have pushed the total caseload in the state to 6,12,134, a National Health Mission (NHM) bulletin said.
More than 116.54 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have been provided to states and Union territories so far through the Centre and direct state procurement category, the Union health ministry said on Saturday, reported news agency PTI. More than 15.69 crore (15,69,46,111) balance and unutilised Covid vaccine doses are still available with the states/UTs to be administered.
New Zealand's 206 new daily community infections on Saturday carried it past the double-hundred mark for the first time during the coronavirus pandemic, as the nation scrambles to vaccinate its population of 5 million.
India today logged 10,929 cases, which is 14.2 per cent lower than yesterday's numbers (12,729). The country reported 392 deaths in the last 24 hours, the ministry said.
A new study in the Veterinary Record reveals that pets can be infected with the alpha variant of SARS-CoV-2, which was first detected in southeast England and is commonly known as the UK variant or B.1.1.7.
This variant rapidly outcompeted pre-existing variants in England due to its increased transmissibility and infectivity.