India Registers Minor Dip Again With 7,178 New Covid Cases, Active Infections Stand At 65,683

The active caseload now stands at 65,683 with 7,178 new cases in the last 24 hours.

India on Monday registered 7,178 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours registering a minor dip in cases for the second day in a row. The active cases now stand at 65,683, as per the latest data by the Union Health Ministry. The number of recoveries in the past 24 hours is 9,011 while the eight deaths were reconciled, as per the ministry's data. The total number of fatalities has now reached 3,31,345.  Active cases are at present 0.15 per cent of total cases while the recovery rate is at 98.67 per cent.

As per the ministry's data, the daily positivity rate is 9.16 per cent and the weekly positivity rate is at 5.41 per cent. The Health Ministry said that a total of 92.54 crore tests have been conducted so far among which 78,342 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours.

On Saturday, Maharashtra Health Minister Dr Tanaji Sawant said the currently spreading Covid-19 variant XBB.1.16 was not a reason to worry. He asked the citizens not to panic amid the surge in cases in the state. Sawant also stated the current Covid wave will go down to an endemic stage by May 15 this year, adding that a downward trend will be witnessed next month. However, the state health department has acknowledged the XBB.1.16 to be the dominant variant of Omicron.

With over 681 cases of XBB.1.16  Covid variant, the state has been witnessing a surge in cases. A total of five persons have already succumbed to this variant, reported PTI.

The minister was speaking at the 'Bhoomi Poojan' ceremony of the new 900-bed district civil super-speciality hospital in Thane. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde performed the rituals.

While talking during the event, Shinde said the Thane District Civil Hospital had a major role in the development of the Shiv Sena in Thane and adjoining districts, reported PTI.