Coronavirus India Updates: Active Infections Top 30 Lakh As Record Spread Continues

Active Covid-19 infections in India crossed 30 lakh for the first time ever, as an unprecedented outbreak continued to rip through the world’s second-most populous nation.

Nearly 3.8 lakh people tested positive for the virus in a 24-hour period, the highest number of fresh cases in any country in any day, according to the Health Ministry’s update as of 8 a.m. on April 29.

3,645 patients succumbed to the illness in just 24 hours, marking the deadliest day in India’s struggle with the pandemic. That took the total death toll near 2.05 lakh.

Key Numbers

• Total confirmed cases: 1,83,76,524
• Total number of active cases: 30,84,814
• Total patients cured/discharged: 1,50,86,878
• Total deaths: 2,04,832
• Number of fresh cases in last 24 hours: 3,79,257
• One-day recoveries: 2,69,507
• One-day deaths: 3,645
• Total vaccine doses administered: 15,00,20,648

Pune-based Serum Institute of India, which is manufacturing the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, has said it will lower the price of doses for states to Rs 300 from Rs 400 earlier.

“This will enable more vaccinations and save countless lives,” Chief Executive and Owner Adar Poonawalla said on Twitter, adding that it was a “philanthropic gesture”.

India will begin the third phase of its immunisation programme on May 1, when everyone above the age of 18 will be eligible for the shot.