India reported less than 2 lakh Covid cases for the third consecutive day with 1,65,553 lakh new infections on Sunday, taking the country’s total to 2,78,94,800. The country also saw 3,460 deaths due to the infection in the last 24 hours. A total of 2,76,309 discharges were logged in the last 24 hours, pushing the recovery toll to 2,54,54,320. There are 21,14,508 active cases in the country, while the death toll now stands at 3,25,972. The fatality tally has been below 4,000 for the fourth straight day.
By far a total of 21,20,66,614 people have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in India.
The daily positivity decreased to 8.02 per cent, remaining below the 10 per cent-mark for five consecutive days, while the weekly positivity rate fell to 9.36 per cent, the union health ministry data said.
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About 20,63,839 COVID-19 tests were conducted in the country on Saturday, taking the total number of tests to 34,31,83,748, the ministry said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday evening announced a slew of relief assistance for the children orphaned during the pandemic. Free education will be ensured for them and they will get help in seeking higher education loans, an official statement read. "It is our duty, as a society, to care for our children and instil hope for a bright future," the Prime Minister said. Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra among few states have also announced welfare measures for such children who have lost both parents due to Covid.
The health ministry on Saturday wrote to all states saying that private hospitals providing vaccination in collaboration with luxury hotels is against the guidelines issued for the National Covid Vaccination Program.
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The Pfizer Covid vaccine is less effective but seems to be protective against the more transmissible Covid variant detected in India, according to a study by France's Pasteur Institute.