India records 8,503 fresh coronavirus cases, 9.7% lower than yesterday

New Delhi: India reported 8,503 fresh Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours- 9.7% lower than yesterday, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Friday.

The top five states which have registered maximum cases are Kerala with 4,169 cases, followed by Maharashtra with 789 cases, Tamil Nadu with 698 cases, West Bengal with 567 cases and Karnataka with 373 cases.

77.58 per cent of the new cases are reported from these five states, with Kerala alone responsible for 49.03 per cent of the new cases.

624 deaths have been reported in the country in the last 24 hours, increasing the total reported death count to 4,74,735.

Maximum casualties were reported in Chandigarh (256), followed by Kerala with 225 daily deaths.

The recovery of 7,678 patients in the same period has increased the cumulative tally to 3,41,05,066. Consequently, the recovery rate stands at 98.36 per cent, highest since March 2020.

Currently, the country's active caseload stands at 94,943. Active cases constitute 0.27 per cent of the total positive cases, which is lowest since March 2020.

Also in the same period, a total of 12,93,412 tests were conducted taking the cumulative tests to over 65.32 crore.

Meanwhile, the weekly positivity rate at 0.72 per cent has remained less than 1 per cent for the last 26 days now.

The daily positivity rate stands at 0.66 per cent, which has also remained below 2 per cent for last 67 days and less than 3 per cent for 102 consecutive days.

With the administration of 74,57,970 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India's Covid inoculation coverage has reached 131.18 crore as of Friday morning.

This has been achieved through 1,36,76,290 sessions.

More than 18.80 crore balance and unutilised Covid-19 vaccine doses are still available with the states and UTs to be administered, according to the health ministry.