India's total covid 19 cases surge past 1.03 crore

New Delhi : In the past 24 hours India tested another 18,177 positive for covid 19 and reported 217 deaths alongside cumulative cases reached 1,03,23,965 Sunday.

While 99,27,310 have recovered, as many as 1,49,435 have succumbed to the virus since the pandemic hit the nation,data from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare showed.

Currently, there are 2,47,220 active cases. The recovery rate stands at 96.16 per cent while the fatality rate is 1.45 as per cent.

Maharashtra continues to be the worst-hit state till date. Over 70 per cent of the daily new cases are being reported by 10 states and union territory -- Kerala, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Chattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Five States -- Kerala, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh contribute 62 per cent of the total active cases.

Giving a breathing space, India has recorded one of the lowest new cases per million population in the last seven days (101).

Brazil, Russia, France, Italy, the US and the UK have much higher cases per million population reported in the last 7 days.

Amid the rising cases in some nations, vaccine drive afoot has raised hopes. Oxford-AstraZenaca vaccine Covishield, manufactured by Serum Institute of India, and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin have been recommended by the expert panel and has been forwarded to the Drug Controller General of India for approval.

India plans to vaccinate nearly 30 crore people in the first phase of drive. The vaccine will be offered to one crore healthcare workers, along with two crore frontline and essential workers and 27 crore elderly, mostly above the age of 50 years with comorbidities.

IANS report with edits