India reports 86,498 new Covid infections, lowest in 66 days

India on Tuesday reported 86,498 new Covid cases and 2,123 more deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the country's government data.

This is the lowest daily infection for the country in 66 days. The total cases in India now stand at 2,89,96,473, and the total deaths at 3.51 lakh.

Active cases have decreased by 97,907 in last 24 hours, taking the cumulative total to 13.03 lakh.

Maharashtra continues to be the worst Covid-hit state. It is followed by four southern states: Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, an NDTV report said.

23.61 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive hit hard by shortages.

Recoveries continue to outnumber the daily new cases for the 26th consecutive day. The recovery rate stood at 94.29 per cent.

The positivity rate - number of positive cases identified per 100 - stood at 4.62 per cent. India has been reporting positivity rate below 10 per cent for 15 consecutive days now.

In the meantime, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that his government would take back control of the vaccination drive from the states and provide vaccines free of charge to all above 18 from June 21.