New Delhi: India on Saturday logged 1,223 Covid infections in the last 24 hours while active cases dipped to 16,498 from 18,009, according to the Union Health Ministry data.


The death toll has climbed to 5,31,767 with 14 fatalities which includes those reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated. The COVID-19 tally now stands at 4.49 crore (4,49,74,909). The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,44,21,781, while the case fatality rate stood at 1.18 per cent.


At 16,498, the active cases comprise 0.04 per cent of the total infections. The national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.77 per cent, the ministry said.


According to the ministry's website, 220.66 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive. 


Covid Cases In Delhi


According to data shared by the city government's health department, Delhi on Saturday recorded 43 fresh coronavirus cases with a positivity rate of 2.07 per cent and two Covid-related deaths. The complete case sheets on the two fatalities, are, however, awaited from hospital, the latest bulletin said.


With fresh cases, Delhi's Covid case tally has climbed to 20,40,390, while the death toll due to the viral disease rose to 26,651 according to the bulletin issued by the health department.


World Health Organisation Declassifies COVID-19 Pandemic


Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) agreed to declassify the Covid-19 pandemic as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). At its 15th meeting on Covid-19 on Thursday, WHO's International Health Regulations Emergency Committee addressed the pandemic, and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus agreed that the public health emergency of international concern, or PHEIC, proclamation should be lifted.


“For more than a year the pandemic has been on a downward trend,” Tedros stated.


“This trend has allowed most countries to return to life as we knew it before Covid-19,” Tedros said, adding that: “Yesterday, the emergency committee met for the 15th time and recommended to me that I declare an end to the public health emergency of international concern. I have accepted that advice.”


"As we speak, thousands of people around the world are fighting for their lives in intensive care units. And millions more continue to live with the debilitating effects of post-Covid conditions," he stated.


Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday agreed to declassify the Covid-19 pandemic as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). At its 15th meeting on Covid-19 on Thursday, WHO's International Health Regulations Emergency Committee addressed the pandemic, and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus agreed that the public health emergency of international concern, or PHEIC, proclamation should be lifted.


“For more than a year the pandemic has been on a downward trend,” Tedros stated.


“This trend has allowed most countries to return to life as we knew it before Covid-19,” Tedros said, adding that: “Yesterday, the emergency committee met for the 15th time and recommended to me that I declare an end to the public health emergency of international concern. I have accepted that advice.”




"As we speak, thousands of people around the world are fighting for their lives in intensive care units. And millions more continue to live with the debilitating effects of post-Covid conditions," he stated.