Coronavirus Update: India Reports 975 COVID Cases Amid Surge In Delhi. Check Recoveries, Deaths

Delhi reported 366 new COVID-19 cases, while the positivity rate stood at 3.95%. Nearly 300 samples taken from people who had tested COVID positive in Delhi have been sent for genome sequencing.

Nearly 300 samples taken from people who had tested COVID positive in Delhi have been sent for genome sequencing. (Representative Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: India on Saturday reported 975 new coronavirus infections, 796 recoveries, and 4 deaths in 24 hours.

According to the Union health ministry data, India's infection tally rose to 4,30,40,947, while the active cases have risen to 11,366.

 On Friday, India reported 949 new COVID infections, 810 recoveries, and 6 deaths.

The ministry data updated at 8 am showed that the total recoveries were at 4,25,07,834, while the death toll climbed to 5,21,747 .

The active cases comprise 0.03 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate remained at 98.76 per cent.

The country's daily COVID positivity rate was reported to be at 0.23 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 0.25 per cent.

186.38 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far under the Nationwide Vaccination Drive.

About 300 Positive Samples Sent For Genome Sequencing Amid COVID Surge In Delhi

Notably, Delhi reported 366 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, while the positivity rate stood at 3.95 per cent, according to data shared by the city's health department.

There were no fresh COVID-related fatalities. However, the COVID positivity rate in the national capital jumped from 0.5 per cent to 3.95 per cent in a week.

Reports of infections from schools have sparked concerns in the national capital, weeks after they opened for completely offline classes following a two-year gap due to the pandemic.

Recently, amid the threat of a new coronavirus variant, nearly 300 samples taken from people who had tested COVID positive in Delhi have been sent for genome sequencing, PTI reported official sources as saying on Friday.

The sequencing is being done essentially to find if any new variant, like XE, has circulated in the city or not.

The XE variant is a combination or recombinant of both sub-variants BA.1 and BA.2 of Omicron.

The sequencing will take about 7-10 days to process, the PTI sources said.

Meanwhile, schools in Delhi have been asked to close the entire premises or specific wings temporarily if any student or staff tests positive for COVID-19.

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain had said that the AAP government is keeping a watchful eye over the COVID-19 situation and there is no reason to worry until a new variant of concern is detected.

"Every day a new variant is getting generated as the virus is mutating," he had said.

(With Agency Inputs)