A health worker gives a dose of Covid vaccine to a beneficiary at a free vaccination camp organized by the Delhi government.
With 246 deaths due to the infection in the last 24 hours, India recorded 18,987 new cases of the novel coronavirus. According to the data shared by the Union Health Ministry on Thursday, there were a total of 19,808 discharges in the last 24 hours in the country, taking the total recovery rate to around 98.06 per cent and the total recoveries to 3,33,62,709.
Data from the ministry shows that the total active cases of COVID-19 in India has come down slightly to 2,06,586.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 58,76,64,525 samples have been tested for COVID-19 till October 13. Of these, 13,01,083 samples were tested on Wednesday.
The total death toll in the country now stands at 4,51,435. In India, the first death due to the COVID pandemic was reported in March 2020.
Meanwhile, Kerala on Wednesday reported 11,079 fresh COVID cases and 123 deaths, taking the total caseload to 48,20,698 and fatalities to 26,571. The state is showing a decline in daily fresh cases after crossing the 30,000 mark after the Onam festival in August.
A state government release said that with 9,972 more people recovering from the virus since Tuesday, the total recoveries touched 46,95,904 and active cases came down to 97,630, with 89,995 samples tested in the last 24 hours.
In addition, as on Wednesday, more than 97.79 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have been provided to the States and UTs so far, the Union Health Ministry said.
It added that more than 8.43 crore remaining and unused vaccine doses are still available with the states and union territories. The immunization drive has been intensified to ensure availability of more vaccines, advance visibility of vaccine availability to states and union territories and streamline the vaccine supply chain, the ministry said.
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