Coronavirus India Cases: Fresh Cases Drop Below 3 Lakh, But Over 4,000 Dead

India reported less than 3 lakh new Covid-19 infections for the first time in almost a month, in a small relief to a healthcare system struggling with a shortage of critical infrastructure and vaccines.

More than 2.81 lakh people tested positive for the coronavirus in the last 24 hours, the lowest since April 20, according to the Health Ministry’s update as of 8 a.m. on May 16.

Recoveries during the same period was significantly higher at nearly 3.79 lakh, taking active cases below 36 lakh for the first time in ten days. They still account for more than 14% of the country’s total caseload.

Despite fewer cases of infection, more than 4,000 patients succumbed to the illness in a single day. India’s total death toll from the pandemic now stands at 2.74 lakh.

Key figures:

• Total confirmed cases: 2,49,65,463
• Total number of active cases: 35,16,997
• Total patients cured/discharged/migrated: 2,11,74,076
• Total deaths: 2,74,390
• Number of fresh cases in last 24 hours: 2,81,386
• One-day recoveries: 3,78,741
• One-day deaths: 4,106
• Total vaccine shots administered: 18,29,26,460

To be sure, data on Covid-19 cases and related deaths may be severely deficient as several states have inadequate testing, chronic underreporting and have been attributing the casualties to other causes.

Mumbai Vaccinations Paused Amid Cyclone Alert

The Mumbai civic body on Sunday decided to keep its Covid-19 vaccination drive suspended for the third day on May 17 in view of the warning about cyclone Tauktae, municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal said.

The vaccination programme will now be implemented on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Chahal said.