India reported 8,318 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, informed the Health Ministry on Saturday.
As many as 465 people succumbed to the COIVD-19 infection in the country in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 4,67,933. With 10,967 fresh recoveries, the total recoveries stand at 3,39,88,797. The recovery rate is currently at 98.34 per cent, which is the highest since March 2020.
The active case accounts for less than 1 per cent of total cases, currently at 0.31 per cent, lowest since March 2020, at 1,07,019.
Daily positivity rate (0.86 per cent) less than 2 per cent for the last 54 days.
Weekly positivity rate (0.88 per cent) less than 1 per cent for the last 13 days.
Till now, 121.06 cr vaccine doses have been administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive.
With the news of a new Covid-19 variant — Omicron, being detected in southern Africa, scientists and health experts in India have said that new waves of infection are anticipated and unless we act quickly and efficiently, the country will possibly see repeat waves.
The variant has also been declared as a variant of concern by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
In a communication to all states and Union Territories, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said India’s National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has informed the government that “multiple cases of Covid-19 variant B.1.1529 have been reported in Botswana (3 cases), South Africa (6 cases) and Hong Kong (1 case)”.
“This variant is reported to have a significantly high number of mutations, and thus, has serious public health implications for the country, in view of recently relaxed visa restrictions and opening up of international travel,” Bhushan said.
“lt is therefore imperative that all international travellers travelling from and transiting through these countries, (they are part of the “at risk” Country Category of international travellers coming to lndia) are subjected to rigorous screening and testing”, the communication said.
“The contacts of these international travellers must also be closely tracked and tested as per MoHFW guidelines.”
