India overtakes US in total number of Covid vaccine doses administered

New Delhi: India has overtaken the US in the total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered so far. While India launched the COVID-19 vaccination drive on January 16, and has administered over 32.85 crore doses till date, the US which started its inoculation drive on December 14, 2020 has given over 32.33 crore doses.

"India achieves another milestone in COVID-19 vaccination and overtakes USA in total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered," the Union Health Ministry said on Monday.

India's cumulative vaccination coverage exceeded 32.85 crores on Monday. A total of 32,85,54,011 vaccine doses have been administered so far. Over 48.01 (48,01,465) lakh vaccine doses were administered on Monday, according to a provisional report compiled at 7 pm.

India logged 46,148 new Coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,02,79,331, while daily fatalities were recorded below 1000, taking the death toll to 3,96,730.

However, recoveries continue to outnumber daily new cases for the 46th consecutive day. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 2,93,09,607, while the case fatality rate stands at 1.31 per cent, the data released by the ministry stated.

The country registered 979 fresh fatalities due to COVID-19 in a day, the lowest in 76 days.

The active cases declined to 5,72,994 comprising 1.89 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 96.80 per cent, the data updated at 8 am showed.

Also, 15,70,515 tests were conducted on Sunday taking the total cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of COVID-19 in the country to 40,63,71,279.

The daily positivity rate was recorded at 2.94 per cent. It has been less than five per cent for 21 consecutive days, the ministry said, adding the weekly positivity rate has declined to 2.81 per cent.

Also on Monday, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said that a total of 40,845 cases of black fungus or mucormycosis have been reported in the country so far, of which 31,344 are rhinocerebral in nature, and the death toll from the infections stands at 3,129.

Vardhan, who chaired the 29th meeting of the high-level Group of Ministers (GoM) on COVID-19, apprised the members that of the total numbers, 34,940 patients had Covid (85.5 per cent), 26,187 (about 64.11 per cent) were co-morbid for diabetes, while 21,523 (52.69 per vent) of those infected were on steroids.

Amid fears of a third wave of Coronavirus and cases of its highly infectious 'Delta Plus' variant emerging in Maharashtra, the state tightened restrictions with effect from Monday, with essential shops allowed to remain open only till 4 pm on all days.