New Delhi: India witnessed yet another record in the number of COVID infection with over 4,14,188 cases and 3,915 fatalities in the last 24 hours.
The country has been reporting over three lakh daily cases for the last 15 days and over 3,000 casualties daily in the last nine days.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 29,86,01,699 samples have been tested up to Thursday (May 6) for Covid-19. Of these 18,26,490 samples were tested on Thursday.
India's total tally of Covid-19 cases now stands at 2,14,91,598 with 36,45,164 active cases and a total of 2,34,083 deaths, so far, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Friday.
A total of 3,31,507 people have been discharged in the last 24 hours, said the Health Ministry in a press statement.
The Health Ministry said that a total of 16,49,73,058 people have been vaccinated so far in the country, including 23,70,298, who were administered vaccines in the last 24 hours.
The country has expanded the vaccination drive to all adults above 18 last week even as many states flagged shortage.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the pace of vaccination should not be slowed down. "PM spoke about the need to sensitise states that the speed of vaccination doesn't come down. Citizens should be facilitated for vaccination despite lockdowns and healthcare workers involved in vaccination must not be diverted for other duties," a note from his office said.
States like Rajasthan and Kerala have also announced a lockdown to tackle the Covid surge. While Rajasthan has announced a lockdown between May 10 and May 24, Kerala has announced strict restrictions between May 8 and May 16. Several states have imposed stringent measures to curb the spread of the virus.
Stories of COVID patients in India struggling to get medical attention have been making global headlines which prompted countries like United States and United Kingdom to send medical supplies.
American civil rights campaigner Reverend Jesse Jackson has urged US President Joe Biden to release 60 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine for India.