India recorded 43,654 new coronavirus cases, 47 per cent higher than yesterday when fresh cases dipped below 30,000 for the first time in nearly four months. The positivity rate stands at 2.51 per cent. 640 deaths take India’s tally to 4.22 lakh.

The government on Tuesday sounded a warning against any sort of laxity. “The pandemic is far from over… globally. We have to be careful… We may be tired, but not the virus, this is an alert for us,” said Dr VK Paul, chairman of the National Expert Committee on Vaccine Administration.

Stressing on the need to step up vaccination, Dr VK Paul further said: “While no vaccine has a 100 per cent guarantee, all vaccines, even our own, shows that the chance of serious disease is nearly eliminated. The chance of death is nearly eliminated.”

In the last 24 hours, Kerala recorded 22,129 fresh cases. The surge in Kerala is worrying even as other states have seen a considerable drop in infections. “Up to 50 per cent of new cases are coming from Kerala and Maharashtra. The fatalities are low because their health infrastructure is good,” a source in Health Ministry has said.

After much criticism over the centre’s statement in parliament that ‘no deaths have been reported due to the shortage of oxygen by states’, sources have said the government has now sought data from states and union territories. The data is expected to be presented in the parliament before the end of monsoon session next month.

Worldwide, 19.53 crore Covid cases have been recorded so far, and over 41 lakh deaths. India has recorded 3.14 crore total cases and the US has reported 3.14 crore cases.

News Source : Money Control