Here's your 10-point cheatsheet to this big story:
The country's caseload increased to 4.46 crore (4,46,94,349), official data updated at 8 am on Saturday stated.
While Jharkhand and Maharashtra reported one death each, two were reconciled by Kerala.
Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Gujarat have the highest number of the viral infection cases, data showed.
India's daily average new Covid cases are up six times in a month. Average daily new cases a month ago (Feb 18) was 112 while now (March 18) it's 626.
Active cases now comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections. The national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.80 per cent, according to the health ministry website.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,58,161 and the case fatality rate stands at 1.19 per cent.
According to the ministry's website, 220.64 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered under the nationwide vaccination drive.
The Centre has written to six states saying they should focus on controlling the sudden increase in the viral infection. The Union Health Secretary on Wednesday wrote to Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka asking them to stress on testing, treating, tracking, and vaccination.
In its letter to the six states, the health ministry had said there are a few states which are reporting higher number of cases indicating possible localised spread of infection and there is a need to follow a risk assessment-based approach to prevent and contain the infection, without losing the gains made so far in the fight against the pandemic.
Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan had on Saturday as well written a letter to states and union territories flagging a gradual rise in Covid test positivity rates in some states. Calling it a concerning issue, he had said it needs to be promptly addressed.
UK Covid-19 Inquiry To Issue First Report On Preparedness Joe Biden Tests Positive For Covid As Age Worries Mount Long Covid Symptoms To Last Longer In Pregnant Women: Study World's Largest Isolated Tribe Makes Rare Appearance In New Footage 2 Passengers Die As Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express Derails In UP Puja Khedkar's Mother Was Hiding At Lodge With Cab Driver, Used Fake ID Britain Failed By Flawed Planning For Coronavirus Pandemic, Probe Finds Malavika Mohanan's Pastel Saree Perfectly Matched Her Charming Elegance Chartered Accountancy Final Exam Schedule For November Session Out Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.