India records 35,662 new COVID-19 cases, over 1,200 more than yesterday

India recorded 35,662 new COVID-19 cases and 320 deaths in last 24 hours, data from the Union Ministry of Health confirmed on Saturday. India’s total infection tally now stands at 3,33,81,728, with the death toll pushed to 4,44,248. 

The rise in new cases recorded on Saturday was 1,259 higher than those on Friday. 

Active cases have decreased by 3,867 to 3,39,056 and comprise 1.02% of the total caseload. 

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37,950 patients recovered from the infection in the last 24 hours, taking India’s total number of recoveries to 3,25,98,424. The national recovery rate stands at 97.65%. 

Data from the Indian Institute of Medical Research (ICMR) confirmed that 14,48,833 tests were conducted on Friday, taking the total cumulative tests conducted so far to 55,07,80,273.

The daily positivity rate has been recorded at 2.46%. It has been less than three per cent for the last 19 days, according to the data.

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The weekly positivity rate has been recorded at 2.02%. It has been below three per cent for the last 85 days, the ministry said.

The government administered 63,97,972 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in the last 24 hours, taking India’s cumulative vaccination tally to 77,24,25,744. 

India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7 last year, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19 last year.

India recorded two crore cases on May 4 and three crore cases on June 23.

The Health Ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to co-morbidities. “Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research,” the ministry said.