India Records Over 2.59 Lakh New Covid Cases; No Decline In Death Toll, 4209 Fatalities Recorded

Tamil Nadu and Kerala see the most number of fresh infections while Maharshtra and Delhi register highest cases of balck fungus

Image: PTI

Covid In India: India reports 2,59,591 new COVID 19 cases, 3,57,295 discharges & 4,209 deaths in last 24 hrs, as per Health Ministry.

Total cases: 2,60,31,991

Total discharges: 2,27,12,735

Death toll: 2,91,331

Active cases: 30,27,925

Total vaccination: 19,18,79,503

Tamil Nadu reported 35,579 new infections, followed by Kerala (30,491) and Maharashtra (29,911). Maharashtra recorded 738 new casualties on the day, followed by Karnataka (548) and Tamil Nadu (397).

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said that 32,44,17,870 samples tested for COVID19 up to 20th May 2021. Of these, 20,61,683 samples were tested yesterday.

The number of districts reporting a decline in case positivity increased from 210 in April 29-May 5 to 303 districts in May 13-19, the Health Ministry said on Thursday. It also said seven states have more than 25 per cent case positivity, while 22 states have more than 15 per cent case positivity. 

Daily vaccinations in India continue to decrease. Only 11.66 lakh doses were administered in the country in the 24 hours ending 7 a.m. on May 20, which is 1.46 lakh doses less than what was recorded in the previous 24 hours. It is also 7.29 lakh doses less than what was recorded in the same period, one week ago.

The decline in cases is a good sign of India but the country is again staring at a bigger crisis of Black fungus infections which are continuously on rise and have hit 15 states in India till now.  The mucormycosis infections, which was rare when it first emerged, has resulted in high demand for the anti-fungal drug Amphotericin B, used to treat mucormycosis.