India recorded 42,618 new COVID-19 cases and 330 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per Union Health Ministry data released on Friday. The active COVID-19 cases in the country stand at 4,05,681 currently, taking India’s coronavirus death toll to 4,40,225.

Recoveries in the last 24 hours stand at 36,385, taking the total tally to 3,21,00,01. 

 As far as the vaccination is concerned, India has successfully administered 67,72,11,205 vaccination till now, reported the Health Ministry.  

Kerala remains the largest contributor of COVID-19 cases in India, accounting for 23,322 of the total 46,618 new COVID cases on Friday. The death tally on Friday in Kerala stood at 131 deaths. This came after the state celebrated its biggest festival during which family and social gatherings happened from the get-go. “With cases rising in Kerala, adequate steps should be taken to contain the inter-state spread of Covid-19,” Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said in a statement. 

As rapid vaccination efforts are taking place, two-thirds of the population is reportedly equipped with COVID-19 antibodies, primarily through natural infection. According to experts, the surge in cases is likely to be less deadly than that in April, following the onset of the second wave of COVID-19 in India. “A decently managed vaccination programme, along with the hybrid immunity we’re seeing now, makes a massive third wave unlikely,” clinical immunologist and rheumatologist Padmanabha Shenoy told India Today. 

Meanwhile, the emergence of new C.1.2 and Mu variants of the coronavirus have become a cause for concern across the globe due to their highly mutating nature.