India reports 20,409 new COVID-19 cases, 47 deaths

According to the Union Health Ministry and Family Welfare, India reported 20,409 new COVID-19 cases on Friday whereas 20,557 cases were registered on Thursday. The Union Health Ministry of India has confirmed 22,697 recoveries pushing the total recoveries to 4,33,09,484 crore.

In the last 24 hours, India also reported 47 deaths taking the country’s toll to 5,26,258 lakh. At the same time, the active caseload stood at 1,43,988. Although on July 28, there were 1,46,323 active cases of COVID-19.

The active cases comprise 0.33 per cent of the total infections. Furthermore, the current recovery rate in the country stands at 98.48 per cent, the daily positivity rate at 5.12 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 4.82 per cent.

The Health Ministry on Friday said that as many as 3,98,761 tests were conducted on Thursday, taking the total cumulative tests undertaken so far in the country to 87.44 crores.

Meanwhile, the national capital, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra has seen a massive spike in COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. Tamil Nadu on Thursday reported 1,712 new cases in the previous 24 hours and Delhi reported 1128. However, Maharashtra reported 2,203 new cases of COVID-19.However three monkeypox cases have also been reported in Kerala and one case in Delhi was reported on Sunday.

Vaccination in India

Moreover, as of now, India has administered 2,03,60,46,307 crore vaccine doses, and for the age group 12-14 years, over 3,88,69,424 crore 1st dose vaccines have been administered. However, in the last 24 hours, 38,63,960 COVID-19 vaccines were administrated. Notably, the nationwide vaccination drive was started on January 16, 2021.

A milestone was achieved on July 17 as India crossed its 2 billion, i.e. 200 crore vaccination mark. After this, India has become the second country in the world to do so.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated all Indians on crossing the special figure of 200 crore vaccine doses. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said, “India creates history again! Congrats to all Indians on crossing the special figure of 200 crore vaccine doses. Proud of those who contributed to making India’s vaccination drive unparalleled in scale and speed. This has strengthened the global fight against COVID-19.”

Earlier on July 13, the government of India has taken an important decision where people between the age of 18-59 in the country can get a booster dose or third dose of the COVID vaccine at government immunization centers for free. As a part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, the booster dose will be free for 75 days, starting from July 15.

However, from July 15, the program of administering free precaution doses for the next 75 days to adult citizens across the country under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav has started.