India sees 46,759 new Covid cases, near two-month high

India's daily Covid numbers jumped by over four per cent as the country reported 46,759 new cases on Saturday, the most in nearly two months, as cases surge in Kerala, reports NDTV. 

509 deaths were recorded during the past 24 hours, according to the government. 

Kerala contributed 32,801 cases in the past 24 hours to take the total number of those affected in the state by the viral infection to 38,14,305. The southern state's positivity rate currently stands at 19.22 per cent, an increase from 18.03 on August 26.

Maharashtra, the state with the highest overall caseload, reported 4,654 new infections and 170 fatalities in 24 hours. Maharashtra's Covid recovery rate stands at 97.02 per cent, while the fatality rate is 2.12 per cent.

With the positivity rate in the national capital at 0.1 per cent, the Delhi government has decided to open schools in the city from September 1.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, however, said that students will need parents' permission and no one will be forced to attend the classes.

India's daily positivity rate remains less than 3 per cent for the last 28 days and is presently at 2.19 per cent.

Active cases constitute 1.10 per cent of total cases, the lowest since March 2020, while the national Covid-19 recovery rate stands 97.56 per cent, the Union Health Ministry said.

Over 62.29 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive. On Friday, India set a new milestone with over 1 crore doses being administered to beneficiaries.

On Twitter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the people for making the immunisation exercise a success. "Record vaccination numbers today! Crossing 1 crore is a momentous feat. Kudos to those getting vaccinated and those making the vaccination drive a success," he tweeted.