Single-day spike in India's Covid cases over 500 after 113 days

NEW DELHI: India has reported 524 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours after 113 days, Union health ministry data updated on Sunday stated. The country had reported a single-day spike of over 500 in November last year. The active caseload in the country has risen to 3,618, the bulletin also stated.
The death toll climbed to 5,30,781, with one death reconciled by Kerala, as per the data. The Covid case tally was recorded at 4,46,90,492.

While the national Covid-19 recovery rate stands at 98.80 per cent, the number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,56,093. The case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent, the ministry also stated. Data also showed that 220.64 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.
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The Centre had on Saturday expressed concern over a gradual increase in the Covid-19 positivity rate in some states and said it needed to be promptly addressed.
In a letter to states and UTs, Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan said operational guidelines for integrated surveillance of respiratory pathogens presenting as cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) or severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) need to be followed. Bhushan also requested taking a stock of hospital preparedness, such as availability of drugs and medical oxygen, and vaccination coverage against Covid-19 and influenza.

“While the Covid-19 trajectory has decreased substantially in the last few months, the gradual rise in Covid-19 test positivity rate in some states is a concerning issue that needs to be promptly addressed,” Bhushan wrote.