India records 11,451 new COVID-19 cases, nearly 600 more than yesterday

India recorded 11,451 new COVID-19 cases and 266 deaths in the last 24 hours, data from the Union Ministry of Health confirmed on Monday. India’s total caseload now stands at 3,43,66,987, with the death toll pushed to 4,61,057. 

Active cases have declined by 2,019 to 1,42,826 – the lowest in 262 days. Active cases comprise 0.42% of total cases – the lowest such fraction since March 2020. 

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13,204 patients were discharged in the last 24 hours, taking the country’s total recovery tally to 3,37,63,104. The national recovery rate stands at 98.24%, the highest since March 2020.

Over 61.60 crore samples have been tested for the coronavirus across the country. India’s daily positivity rate has been recorded at 1.32% and has stayed below 2% for the last 35 days. The weekly positivity rate stands at 1.26%, below 2% for the last 45 days.  

23,84,096 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered across the country in the last 24 hours, taking the country’s total vaccination tally to 1,08,47,23,042. The nationwide vaccination drive was started by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 16. 

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While COVID cases are on a decline in the rest of the country, the state of Kerala is still reporting high numbers, accounting for over 60% of India’s daily cases. On Monday, the state reported 7,124 of the country’s 11,451 cases, apart from 7,488 recoveries and 21 deaths.

India’s COVID-19 infection tally crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7 last year, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5, 50 lakh on September 16, 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and the one-crore mark on December 19. The nation’s tally surpassed the two crore-mark on May 4 this year and three crore on June 23.