New Delhi: India on Friday reported a total of 44,658 new Covid cases and 496 deaths in the last 24 hours, ending at 8 AM on Friday. With this the country's caseload has increased to 3,26,03,188, while the death toll has risen to 4,36,861.
Kerala contributed 30,077 cases in the past 24 hours, followed by Maharashtra with 5,108 cases, Tamil Nadu with 1,559 cases, Andhra Pradesh with 1,539 cases and Karnataka with 1,213 cases.
These five states account for 88.45 per cent of the new cases. Kerala, which reported over 30,000 cases for the second day in a row, alone accounts for 67.35 per cent of the new cases.
The southern state has been reporting the most number of coronavirus cases in the country and accounts for the second-highest national tally.
Maximum casualties were reported in Kerala (162), followed by Maharashtra (159).
A total of 32,988 patients recovered in the last 24 hours, taking India's recovery rate to 97.6 per cent. The total recoveries stand at 3,18,21,428 across the country.
India's recovery rate from Covid infection has declined to 97.60 per cent. On the other hand, total active caseload saw a substantial growth of 11,174 in the last 24 hours and currently stands at 3,44,899.
In the last 24 hours, a total 32,988 patients were discharged from the hospitals and health centres, taking the total number of cured to 3,18,21,428 in India, as per the health ministry data.
The weekly positivity rate remains below 3 per cent (2.10 per cent) for the last 63 days. The daily positivity rate continued to remain below 3 per cent for the 31 continuous days and currently stands at 2.45 per cent.
More than 70 lakh doses of Covid vaccines were administered in the last 24 hours.
Meanwhile, India administered 79,48,439 doses in the last 24 hours. Cumulatively, 61,22,08,542 doses have been administered so far in the country.
On Thursday, India completed administering 47.29 crore first doses -- which is 50.30 per cent of the projected adult population.
"India achieves unprecedented milestone! 50 per cent of the eligible population inoculated with the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Keep it up India. Let us fight Corona," Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted.