India COVID-19: Active caseload dips below 50,000 mark for the first time since May 2020

Marking the recovery from the pandemic, India registers its lowest number since the third wave started. A total of 3,993 new coronavirus infections have been registered in the country. With the newest addition, India’s total tally of COVID-19 cases has surged to 4,29,71,308, while the active cases have further dipped down to 49,948, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday morning.

Improvement in COVID-19 stats

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Notably, the active cases comprise a mere 0.12% of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate showed an improvement at 98.68%. In a span of 24 hours, a reduction of 4,170 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 cases of the country. Running alongside the reduction in cases was recoveries, which has now surged to over 4,24,06,150. Meanwhile, with 108 fresh fatalities, the country’s cumulative death toll has climbed up to 5,15,210.

India's COVID-19 figures had crossed the grim 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. Surging rapidly, the numbers went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. However, the bad days for India were far from over, as, on May 4 & June 23 2021, the country crossed the grim milestone of two crores and three crores respectively.

COVID-19 vaccination drive in India

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The COVID-19 vaccination drive has changed the course of the pandemic. With over 61,875 vaccinations centres currently active in the country, a total of 1,16,861 vaccines doses have been administered today, taking the total vaccination tally to 1,79,20,26,230. A total of 33,951 doses have been administered to the adolescent population today. Meanwhile, 82,910 vaccine doses have been administered to the adult population today.

With the current pace of vaccination, the halting of the pandemic seems to be a possibility. All the major Indian cities including, Mumbai, Delhi and Lucknow have lifted the pandemic induced restrictions. However, it will be crucial to maintain the current vaccination pace along with maintaining COVID-19 appropriate behaviour.