Covid-19: India reports 43,509 new infections

India on Thursday added 43,509 new coronavirus cases over the last 24 hours while deaths from Covid-19 rose by 640.

The country's overall caseload now stands at 3.15 crore, while total fatalities are at 4.22 lakh, reported NDTV citing the country's health ministry.

Kerala contributed 22,056 cases to the country's daily numbers. It is followed by Maharashtra with 6.857 cases.

At least two-third of the population in 11 states have developed coronavirus antibodies, according to the findings of a serosurvey by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Madhya Pradesh leads the chart with 79 per cent seroprevalence while Kerala is at the bottom with 44.4 per cent. Seroprevalence in Assam is 50.3 per cent and Maharashtra 58 per cent, the findings of the survey done between June 14 and July 6 revealed.

Over 45 crore vaccine doses have been administered in the country so far, the health ministry said. More than 43 lakh vaccine doses were administered on Wednesday, it said.

India's test positivity rate (positive cases identified for every 100 tests) continues to remain below the 5 per cent-mark at 2.38 per cent.

Active cases have increased by 4,404 cases to take the tally to 4,03,840, which is 1.28 per cent of the total infections. The national Covid-19 recovery rate, meanwhile, was recorded at 97.38 per cent.

A third Covid wave in India can be delayed and it may be less severe than the first two waves if Covid-appropriate behaviour is followed and the pace of vaccination is increased, AIIMS chief Dr Randeep Guleria has said.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has announced a three-year travel ban and hefty penalties on citizens who visit countries on the kingdom's Covid-19 red list, including India.

Nearly 194 million people are affected by Covid-19 worldwide, the World Health Organisation said, adding that infections have risen by 8 per cent in the last week.

The number of coronavirus deaths globally jumped by 21 per cent during the period, it said. Most of the 69,000 deaths were reported in the Americas and Southeast Asia.