India on Tuesday recorded 1,61,736 new cases of the coronavirus, according to numbers released by the Ministry of Health. The country’s overall tally of infections since the pandemic broke out in March 2020 rose to 1,36,89,453.

The toll rose to 1,71,058 with 879 deaths in the last 24 hours. India has 12.64 lakh active cases as of Tuesday.

Ten states – Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Kerala – accounted for 80.80% of the new cases reported in the last 24 hours, the health ministry said in a statement. Maharashtra alone accounted for 44.78% of the total active caseload of the country.

Over 40 lakh people received a vaccine in the last 24 hours, according to ministry data. This takes the total vaccine doses administered so far to 10,85,33,085. The Centre also said that eight states accounted for 60.16% of the total doses given so far in the country.

India is in the midst of a severe second wave of the virus, with Delhi reporting 11,491 new cases on Monday. Positivity rate in the Capital has risen to 12.44%, up from 9.43% on Sunday.

Besides this, lakhs of pilgrims have also congregated for the Kumbh Mela in Uttarakhand. Police officials claim social distancing cannot be implemented as it may cause a stampede. So far, at least 102 pilgrims have tested positive at the festival, according to The Indian Express. No thermal screening has been arranged for, and masks are not being work either, the report added.

On Monday, the Centre also approved Russian vaccine Sputnik-V, amid complaints of vaccine shortages in several states. Kerala joined the list of states experiencing a vaccine shortage, asking for 50 lakh shots immediately.

Meanwhile, Union minister Santosh Gangwar tested positive for the coronavirus. “I do not have any kind of symptoms, request that everyone who has come in contact with me, please follow the coronavirus safety rules,” he tweeted. “Together we will overcome this pandemic.”

State updates

Global scenario