India reports more recoveries than infections, daily cases dip below 3L in weeks

India’s daily covid cases dipped below the 3 lakh mark for the first time since April 21, with 2,81,386 fresh cases and 4,106 deaths in the last 24 hours. The country saw a total of 3,78,741 discharges in the last 24 hours, pushing the total recovery to 2,11,74,076, according to the Union Health Ministry. 

The total cases of COVID-19 in India have now risen to 2,49,65,463, with 35,16,997 active cases, the data showed, while the fatality caseload now stands at 2,74,390. 

So far a total of 18,29,26,460 people have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in India. 

The country has been reporting over 3,000 deaths every day due to covid since April 28. More than 2.7 lakh people have died so far. 

The positivity rate this morning stood at 17.88 per cent. 

Vaccine shortage has been reported from several states that has slowed down the world’s biggest vaccination drive, launched in January, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Sunday said that more than 51 lakh doses of vaccines will be supplied to states and union territories in the next three days.

Top developments:-

•  Meanwhile, more than 9,440 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen (LMO) in nearly 590 tankers have been delivered by the railways to various states nationwide since April 19, the national transporter said on Sunday. About 150 Oxygen Express trains have made their journey so far and brought relief to various states, it added. Twelve Oxygen Express trains were on the run with more than 970 tonnes of LMO in 55 tankers, it said.
•  The southern states of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu got a huge relief in the supply of the life-saving gas with many Oxygen Express trains delivering their loads.
•  Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have extended their lockdowns with stricter curbs after recording over 25,000 daily cases earlier this month, while Punjab has said it’s still awaiting a drop in the cases.

Also Read: In next 3 days states will receive nearly 51 lakh Covid vaccine doses: Centre Govt

•  Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed an anti-covid drug named - 2-deoxy-D-glucose or 2-DG - scheduled to be launched today, with Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh distributing around 10,000 doses to some hospitals in the national capital.
•  The centre has shared new SOPs to handle the spread of the virus in rural parts which are now being hit strongly by the second wave of coronavirus. Village-level surveillance, teleconsultation with community health officers, and training in rapid antigen testing are among the several areas of focus.
•  Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin has been cleared for emergency use. On Sunday the firm said its vaccine is effective against the B.1.167 strain of Covid detected in India and the UK variant of the virus B.1.1.7.

Also Read: Tribals in Maharashtra reluctant to take Covid vaccine; BJP leader demands enquiry behind vaccine hesitation

•  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday telephoned chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Puducherry to discuss the Covid situation.