COVID Updates: The Mutant Strain Reclaims The Country; Punjab adds to the major contributors

• 16,824 new cases registered in the past 24 hours.
• Punjab, UP, MP, and Chhattisgarh show a drastic rise.
• 1,53,83,883 vaccines administered under the mega inoculation program.

The Union Health Ministry reported a rise in confirmed cases by 16,824 taking the tally to 1,11,73,572 cumulatively, while the number of recoveries has increased by 13,788 accounting for 1,08,38,021 total recuperation until Thursday. The mortality rate has shown a rise with 113 dead due to the novel virus. As per MoHFW, 1,73,364 active cases are recorded pan India.

Amongst the highly infectious states, Kerala has started to regress its graph while Maharashtra and Punjab show a steep increase in their counts regularly. Madhya Pradesh registered 440 new infections and recorded 1 death. Uttarakhand also witnessed 100 new cases and 19 recuperations. Few other states and UTs have also started to present mutant strain infections.

The mega inoculation drive was out on 16th Jan 2021 and vaccination of the Frontline Workers (FLWs) started from 2nd Feb 2021. The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced on 1st March 2021 for those citizens over 60 years of age and for people aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions. As per the Union Health Ministry, 1,77,11,287 have been inoculated since the initiation of the drive. Around 68,38,077 HCWs have received their first dose, and 54,177 FLWs the second dose. Under the fourth phase of the drive 14,95,016 beneficiaries aged above 60 years and 2,18,939 beneficiaries aged 45 and above with specific co-morbidities got their jab.