Coronavirus India Updates: New Cases Drop Marginally; Centre Boosts Vaccine Supply To States

Fresh cases of Covid-19 in India dropped for a second day, albeit marginally, as the country’s healthcare system continued to battle an unprecedented outbreak.

Over 3.68 lakh people tested positive for the virus in a 24-hour period, according to the Health Ministry’s update as of 8 a.m. on May 3. Active infections crossed 34 lakh for the first time ever.

More than 3,000 patients succumbed to the illness for the sixth straight day, overwhelming the country’s crematoriums and burial grounds. That took the total death toll above to 2.18 lakh.

Key Numbers:

• Total confirmed cases: 1,99,25,604
• Total number of active cases: 34,13,642
• Total patients cured/discharged: 1,62,93,003
• Total deaths: 2,18,959
• Number of fresh cases in last 24 hours: 3,68,147
• One-day recoveries: 3,00,732
• One-day deaths: 3,417

The central government will supply 56 lakh vaccine doses to states in the next three days, said a May 2 press release by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. This will help states accelerate vaccination of those above 45 years of age as well as healthcare and frontline workers.

To vaccinate those aged between 18-45, states will have to procure their own supply.