India added 26,115 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday taking the total tally of the infections to 3,35,04,534, while the active cases declined to 3,09,575, the lowest in 184 days, according to the Union Health Ministry.
The death count climbed to 4,45,385 with 252 related fatalities, according to the data updated at 8 am.
Active cases comprised 0.92 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 97.75 per cent, the ministry apprised.
A reduction of 8,606 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.
Here are the LIVE updates on coronavirus (COVID-19) cases:
West Bengal reported 14 more COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday, surpassing the previous day's figure by 2 fatalities, as the toll mounted to 18,678, a health department bulletin said.
The state logged 537 fresh cases, but the count remained below the single-day recoveries, it said.
The coronavirus tally in the state stands at 15,62,710.
West Bengal now has 7,741 active cases, while 15,36,291 people have recovered from the disease, including 592 since Monday. At least 33,117 samples were tested in the state since Monday, taking the total number of such clinical examinations to 1,77,97,142, the bulletin said.
Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar on Tuesday said 3,900 people in the state have been infected by black fungus so far.
"Mucormycosis, also known as black fungus infections, are found after recovery from COVID-19 and 3,900 people have been infected in the state so far," Sudhakar said.
Responding to a question raised by Congress MLA from Bhalki, Eshwara Khandre, in the assembly, he said, considering the treatment for the black fungus infection being costly, the government has decided to provide free treatment.
"96,060 vials of Liposomal amphotericin (the drug required for black fungus) has been procured, and 51,000 have already been distributed to districts," he added.
Regarding shortage in supply of drugs for black fungus in Bidar district, the Minister said there is no shortage of Liposomal amphotericin, but there is shortage of Posaconazole.
The Iranian health ministry reported on Tuesday 17,564 new COVID-19 cases, taking the country's total infections to 5,459,796.
According to a briefing published by Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education on its official website, the pandemic has claimed 117,905 lives in the country so far, after 379 new deaths were registered in the past 24 hours.
A total of 4,819,223 people have recovered from the disease or been discharged from hospitals across the country, while 6,661 remain in intensive care units, the ministry said on its official website.
By Tuesday, 31,358,485 people have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine in the country, while 14,416,851 have taken two doses.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reprimanded the world on Tuesday for the inequitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, describing it as an "obscenity" and giving the globe an "F in Ethics."
Addressing the annual UN gathering of world leaders in New York, Guterres said images from some parts of the world of expired and unused vaccines in the garbage told "the tale of our times" - with the majority of the wealthier world immunised while more than 90% of Africa has not even received one dose.
"This is a moral indictment of the state of our world. It is an obscenity. We passed the science test. But we are getting an F in Ethics," Guterres told the UN General Assembly.
Puducherry reported 101 new COVID-19 cases during last 24 hours ending 10 am on Tuesday, taking the total positives to 1,25,618.
The fresh cases identified at the end of examination of 5461 samples were spread over Puducherry 58, Karaikal 34, Yanam one and Mahe 8.
The active cases were 922 of whom 142 were under treatment in hospitals and remaining 780 were in home isolation.
Director of Health G.Sriramulu said while 46 patients recovered and were discharged during last 24 hours the overall recoveries in the Union Territory so far were 1,22,864.
No fresh fatality was reported from any of the four regions of Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam and fatalities remained 1,832.
The Director noted that the test positivity rate was 1.85 percent while fatality and recovery rates were 1.46 percent and 97.81 percent respectively.
Khurda district continued to report the highest number of new cases in Odisha, registering over 43 per cent of 462 fresh infections on Tuesday which pushed the state''s caseload to 10,21,216, a health official said. Odisha''s coronavirus death toll surged to 8,146 as five fresh fatalities were reported. A total of 268 new cases were reported in quarantine centres, while 194 infections were detected during contact tracing, he said.
The UK government's decision to not recognise Covishield as a legitimate anti-Covid vaccine is "discriminatory" and it is within the country's "right to take reciprocal measures" if the matter was not resolved, India's said today. Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said this move impacts Indian citizens travelling to that country.
"The non-recogition of Covishield is a discriminating policy and impacts our citizens travelling to the UK. The External Affairs Minister has raised the issue strongly with the new UK foreign secretary. I am told that certain assurances have been given that this issue will be resolved," Mr Shringla said at a press conference in New Delhi.

A multidisciplinary team of three doctors gave a new lease on life to a 34-year-old man by conducting a surgery to remove his right kidney and part of his left lung which had been severely infected with black fungus post-Covid.
More than 79.74 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have been provided to states and UTs so far, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday. Further, 33 lakh doses are in the pipeline. Over 5.34 crore balance and unutilised COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with the states and UTs to be administered, the ministry said.

Pfizer and BioNTech on Monday said clinical trial results showed their coronavirus vaccine was "safe, well tolerated" and produced a "robust" immune response in children aged five to 11, adding that they would seek regulatory approval shortly.
With the administration of 96,46,778 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India''s COVID-19 vaccination coverage exceeded 81.85 crores (81,85,13,827) as per provisional reports till 7 am on Tuesday, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The ministry said that this has been achieved through 80,35,135 sessions.
As per the data, as many as 1,03,69,386 healthcare workers have been inoculated with the first dose of COVID vaccine while 87,50,107 have been inoculated with both doses. The number of frontline workers vaccinated stands at 1,83,46,016 (first dose) and 1,45,66,593 (two doses).

Coronavirus Vaccination Tracker: According to the Union Health Ministry's latest update, more than 18.59 lakh vaccine doses have been administered in India on 21 September 2021.
Puducherry reported 101 new COVID-19 cases during last 24 hours ending 10 a.m. on Tuesday, taking the total positives to 1,25,618. The fresh cases identified at the end of examination of 5461 samples were spread over Puducherry 58, Karaikal 34, Yanam one and Mahe 8. The active cases were 922 of whom 142 were under treatment in hospitals and remaining 780 were in home isolation.

India on Tuesday said it has in the "mutual interest" of both the nations pushed for early resolution of quarantine issue in the United Kingdom, which has commissioned criticism from all quarters over its non-recognition of people vaccinated in India.
With the addition of 231 coronavirus positive cases, the infection count in Thane district of Maharashtra mounted to 5,56,597. As the virus claimed the life of four more patients, the death count in the Thane district rose to 11,373. The mortality rate of Thane is 2.04 per cent.
Arunachal Pradesh's COVID-19 tally rose to 54,126 on Tuesday as 56 more people tested positive for the infection, while the death of a 101-year-old person in Tirap district pushed the northeastern state's coronavirus toll to 272.
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Despite a century of medical advances, more Americans have now died from Covid-19 than the number who succumbed to the 1918 flu pandemic, according to new data.
The COVID-19 tally of Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose to 7,602 on Tuesday as two more people tested positive for the infection, a health bulletin said. Both the new patients have travel history, it said. The Union territory now has 15 active cases, while 7,458 people have been cured of the disease, and 129 patients have succumbed to the infection so far.

The variants of S-CoV-2 are getting better at travelling through the air, and people must wear tight-fitting masks, ensure better ventilation, get vaccinated, to help stop spread of the virus that causes Covid, according to a study.
Kerala has covered more than 90% of eligible population with first dose of COVID19 vaccine. Over 1 crore people have been vaccinated with the second dose. We are moving fast in achieving vaccination of 100% of eligible population: Kerala Health Minister Veena George (20.09) pic.twitter.com/wmN4nlZisY
- ANI (@ANI) September 20, 2021

The UK on Monday said it is engaging with India to explore how it could expand the recognition of the COVID-19 vaccine certification issued by Indian authorities amid criticism of the new British travel rules.

The United States announced Monday it will lift Covid travel bans on all air passengers in November if they are fully vaccinated and undergo testing and contact tracing.
Himachal Pradesh has recorded 234 new COVID-19 cases and three COVID-related deaths in the last 24 hours, the state health department informed on Monday. According to the health department, the cumulative tally of the COVID-19 cases has gone up to 2,17,140 in the state while there are 1,616 active cases of the infection.
Cuba agreed Monday to provide Vietnam with 10 million doses of its home-grown coronavirus vaccine, Abdala, for which the Asian nation has given emergency approval.
A deal was signed between the two countries during an official visit by President Nguyen Xuan Phuc to the communist island, the government said.
The agreement concerns an initial five million doses, but Vietnam has already authorized the purchase of 10 million doses in total, Cuban media reported.
On Saturday, Vietnam became the first foreign country to approve the emergency use of Abdala, which Cuba is already using along with Soberana 02 , another locally developed vaccine.
Venezuela has signed a contract to acquire 12 million Abdala doses, while Iran is producing Soberana 02 under agreement.
A total of 455 new COVID-19 cases, 517 recoveries and 10 deaths were reported in Assam on Monday.
A media bulletin released by the state's health department informed that Assam has 3,637 active cases while yesterday''s positivity rate stood at 0.63 per cent.
The cumulative recoveries in the state climbed to 5,87,632 with a recovery rate of 98.20 per cent.