2.57 lakh new Covid cases in India, 4,194 deaths

India recorded over 2.57 lakh new Covid-19 cases and 4,194 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per the Union Health Ministry's data on Saturday, reports NDTV.

The country saw a new record with 20,66,285 samples tested since yesterday. The overall case count surged past the 2.62 crore-mark on Saturday morning.

India has been recording over 2 lakh fresh infections every day for nearly a week now. The country's daily cases dropped below the 3 lakh-mark for the first time since April 21 earlier this week. Nearly 30,000 Covid patients have died since May 15.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday stressed on micro containment strategies in rural parts and underlined that Mucormycosis, commonly known as Black Fungus, has emerged as a new challenge in the fight against Covid.

The central government has sent advisory to states on Mucormycosis. "Ensure robust practices of infection prevention and control and sanitation and hygiene in hospitals for prevention and control of secondary and opportunistic fungal infections," the centre has told the states.

Karnataka and Kerala have extended the lockdown to break the chain on transmission. In Karnataka, restrictions have been extended by another two weeks, and will now be in force till June 7. Kerala lockdown has been extended till May 30.

The government on Friday said more than 19.32 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far. In the 18-44 age group, over 92.7 lakh people have been vaccinated. "Our relentless efforts towards exponentially increasing production and supply of COVID-19 vaccines in the country shall ensure that we are able to inoculate our entire adult population by the end of 2021," Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Friday.

Delhi's positivity rate fell below 5 per cent on Friday in a first since April 4. The national capital has been under a strict lockdown since April 19. In the city, which buckled under the pressure of India's second wave, tough restrictions have helped in checking the spread of the virus.

Tamil Nadu witnessed a 17 per cent increase in daily deaths with 467 deaths linked to Covid reported on Friday as compared to 397 deaths a day ago. The number of new infections was 1 per cent higher than Thursday's 35,579 which was its highest ever.

The Health Ministry on Friday said the central government will make proactive efforts for significantly ramping up domestic production of Amphotericin-B drug, an anti-fungal drug for the treatment of Black Fungus disease.

Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan held a meeting with representatives of nine states and union territories on Friday on coronavirus. "Aggressive implementation of test, track and treat strategy is essential to curb the transmission of COVID-19," he said.

Worldwide, over 16.61 crore cases have been logged since the pandemic broke; 34 lakh people have died.