New Delhi: India recorded 1,79,723 fresh infections in the past 24 hours. The recovery rate at 96.62 per cent accounted for 46,569 recuperations in the last 24 hours taking the total recoveries to 3,45,00,172. The daily positivity rate rose to 13.29 per cent drastically.

The number of active cases stood at 7,23,619 accounting for 1.66 per cent of the total number of cases. The active cases reported a rise of 1,33,008 in the last 24 hours. However, the mortality rate recorded at 1.36 per cent reported a spike in deaths recording 145 fatalities, taking the cumulative death toll to 4,83,936.

Omicron variant reported across 27 states and union territories, crossed 4,000 reported the Union Health Ministry today morning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairing the COVID-19 review meeting on Sunday pressed the need to focus on testing, genome sequencing and vaccination. Vaccination for adolescents must be conducted in “mission mode” and focus on Covid-appropriate behaviour will be critical in the coming days, he said.

The health bulletin documented 151.94 crore cumulative vaccinations under the nationwide vaccination drive, including 29.60 lakh administrations in the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, precautionary third doses of vaccines – for health and frontline workers and immuno-compromised seniors commences today. About 5.75 crore people are eligible for the third doses in the ongoing drive – 2.75 crore above the age of 60, 1 crore healthcare workers and 2 crore frontline workers. Those eligible can directly take an appointment or walk into any vaccination centre, the health dept instructed.