This is also the first time since January 8 that daily new cases have been below 1.5 lakh.
The daily positivity rate currently stands at 9.27%, while the weekly positivity rate stands at 12.03%. India’s active caseload currently stands at 14,35,569.
Though the country also crossed the grim milestone of 5 lakh Covid deaths, another 1,072 people succumbed to the disease. India is the third country after the US and Brazil to register 5 lakh deaths in the pandemic.
Last 1 lakh deaths were recorded in 217 days. In contrast, the toll rose from 2 lakh to 3 lakh in just 26 days, when the delta wave was at its peak.
Experts point out that the nationwide vaccination campaign has helped reduce the severity of the infection, as well as reduce hospitalizations and deaths.
Under the vaccination campaign, 168.47 crore vaccine doses have been given so far, in which more than 55 lakh doses have been given in the last 24 hours.
Vaccination opened up to the 15-18 year old age group in early January, and 65% of that population has already been given a single shot of the vaccine.
,