India reported 44,059 new coronavirus cases, taking the tally in the country to 91,39,866. The death toll increased by 511 to 1,33,738.
According to the Union Health Ministry data The number of active COVID-19 cases remained below 5 lakh for the thirteenth consecutive day in the country. There are 4,43,486 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country as on date, which comprises 4.85 percent of the total caseload, the health ministry data stated. The national recovery rate was recorded 93.68 percent, while the COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.46 percent.
Uttarakhand Governor Baby Rani Maurya has tested positive for COVID-19. In a tweet last evening, Maurya said, “My corona report has come out positive. I am asymptomatic and have no problems. I have isolated myself under the supervision of doctors. I request everyone who came in contact with me over the last few days to get themselves tested.” A press release from the Raj Bhawan said the Uttarakhand governor had returned here from Agra on Friday after a week-long vacation.
five worst-affected states till now
Maharashtra – 17,80,208 cases
Karnataka – 8,73,046 cases
Andhra Pradesh – 8,62,213 cases
Tamil Nadu – 7,69,995 cases
Kerala – 5,62,695 cases
Meanwhile Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said a locally-developed Covid-19 vaccine candidate could complete its final trials in a month or two, raising hopes for a rapid roll-out in a country with the world’s second highest number of infections.
The state-run Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and privately-held Bharat Biotech this month started third-stage trials of COVAXIN, in a process that would involve 26,000 volunteers. It is the most advanced Indian experimental vaccine.
“We are in the process of developing our indigenous vaccines, in the process of completing our third-phase trials in the next one or two months,” Harsh Vardhan told a web conference on the pandemic.
