India reports fewest Covid-19 cases in 88 days

India reported 53,256 new Covid-19 cases on Monday, its fewest in 88 days as the second wave of infections appear to be ebbing.

From Monday, the centre, reversing a policy change, will provide vaccines free of charge to all above 18.

India's daily test positivity rate - positive cases identified for every 100 tests - continues to remain stable. It stands at 3.83 per cent.

The country reported 1,422 deaths over the last 24 hours - from the earlier highs of 3,000 deaths in a day. The cumulative deaths are 3,86,713.

Kerala added 11,647 new Covid cases in a day, followed by Maharashtra (9,361), Tamil Nadu (7,817) and Karnataka (4,517).

Daily recoveries continue to outnumber the daily new cases for the 39th consecutive day. 78,190 patients recovered over the last 24 hours; the recovery rate stands at 96.36 per cent.

The active cases, which now comprise 2.35 per cent of the total infections, further reduced to 7,02,887, according to the government data. A net decline of 26,356 cases has been recorded in the Covid-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

Delta Plus variant, a mutated version of the more aggressive B.1.617.2 strain that drove the second wave of infections in India, is undergoing additional mutation called K417N which could become a "variant of concern" if unchecked, said AIIMS Chief Dr Randeep Guleria, adding that India needs to learn from the UK where the said variant is causing a surge in cases.

All coronavirus deaths should be certified as Covid deaths, the centre has said in an affidavit in the Supreme Court amid media reports of huge discrepancy in death figures in at least six states. In a 183-page affidavit, the centre also promised action against doctors who fail to comply with this rule.