New Delhi: India recorded 71,365 fresh infections in the past 24 hours. The recovery rate at 96.70 per cent accounted 1,72,211 recuperations in the last 24 hours taking the total recoveries to 4,10,12,869. The daily positivity rate stood at 4.54 per cent.

The number of active cases stood at 8,92,828 accounting for 2.11 per cent of the total number of cases. The active cases reported a drop by 1,02,063 in the last 24 hours. However, the mortality rate stood at 1.19 per cent reported spike in deaths recording 1217 fatalities, taking the cumulative death toll to 5,05,279.

Worst hit state Maharashtra reported 6,107 new cases during the last 24 hours. This took the cumulative active tally to 78,16,243. The active tally stood at 1,00,019 while the death toll stood at 1,43,155.

Omicron variant is the dominant variant in the country presently and the current surge of COVID-19 cases in the country is showing a sustained declining trend since January 21, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Speaking on vaccination for children under 15, he said, “About 67 per cent in the age group of 15-18 years have been vaccinated so far. The vaccination drive is being implemented in a speedy manner. The future decision (to vaccinate those below 15 year age) will be taken based on the expert group’s suggestion.”

The health bulletin documented 170.87 crore cumulative vaccinations under the nationwide vaccination drive, including 53.61 lakh administrations in the past 24 hours.