With 92,596 fresh count, India's active case tally drops to 12,31,415

New Delhi: India reported 92,596 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the infection tally to 2,90,89,069, while the number of active cases dropped to 12,31,415, according to the Union Health ministry's data updated on Wednesday.

The daily infections remained below one lakh for the second straight day. The death toll due to COVID-19 reached 3,53,528 with 2,219 more fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.

The number of active cases has reduced to 12,31,415, comprising 4.23 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 94.55 per cent.

A net decline of 72,287 cases has been recorded in the COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

Also, 19,85,967 tests were conducted on Tuesday, taking the total cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of COVID-19 in the country to 37,01,93,563, while the daily positivity rate was recorded at 4.66 per cent. It has been less than 10 per cent for 16 consecutive days, the ministry said.

The weekly positivity rate was recorded at 5.66 per cent.

Recoveries continue to outnumber daily new cases for 27 consecutive days.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 2,75,04,126, while the case fatality rate has increased to 1.22 per cent, the data stated.

The 2,219 new fatalities include 702 from Maharashtra, 409 from Tamil Nadu, 179 from Karnataka and 124 from Kerala.

The number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 24 crore, the ministry said on Wednesday.

It further said in the 18-44 age group, 19,24,924 beneficiaries received the first dose of vaccine and 86,450 got the second dose on Wednesday.

So far, 3,38,08,845 people in the 18-44 age group have received the first dose across states and union territories and 4,05,114 have got the second dose.

Meanwhile, Bharat Biotech will be conducting phase-4 clinical trials of indigenously developed Covaxin to check its real-world effectiveness. It will also apply for full licensure for Covaxin only after it gets final analysis data of phase-3 studies, the company said on Wednesday.

According to reports, the phase-4 trials will not just help check the real-world effectiveness, the company said but also ensure that "its vaccine met every rigorous scientific standard for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality needed to support Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA)". On the other hand, the Jharkhand government on Wednesday extended COVID-related lockdown-like restrictions till June 16 with some relaxations, an official said. This is the fifth time that the curbs, first imposed in the state on April 22 for a week, were extended. The ongoing measures were scheduled to end on June 10.

The decision was made at a meeting of the state disaster management authority chaired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

"The Health Safety Week now stands extended till June 16.

"Some relaxations have been given, including the opening of shops in 23 districts from 6 am to 4 pm," the official said.