India's Active Covid-19 Cases Drop To Lowest In 221 Days

In the latest Covid-19 bulletin issued by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on 18 October, India reported 13,596 new coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours, which is the lowest in 230 days.

As per the ministry, the recovery rate in India is at 98.12 per cent, the highest since March 2020, with 19,582 patients recovering in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of recoveries to 3,34,39,331, reported ANI.

The number of active cases in India has dropped to 1,89,694, the lowest level in 221 days. The active caseload now makes up less than 1 per cent of the total caseload. It is at 0.56 per cent right now, the lowest since March 2020.

As per the reports, Kerala registered 7,555 fresh Coronavirus cases and 74 deaths in the last 24 hours, whereas Maharashtra reported 1,715 new coronavirus positive cases.

For the first time since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic in India, Mumbai, which was formerly a hotspot of Covid-19 infections, reported zero Covid deaths on 17 October.

The region last reported zero deaths on 26 March, last year, according to Suresh Kakani, additional municipal commissioner (health), Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

Additionally, data from genomic sequencing suggests that the city has fewer Delta cases. According to the results of the third round of genome sequencing, 54 per cent of 376 samples of Covid-19 positive patients collected from various hospitals and individuals showed the Delta variant, compared to 70 per cent in the first round of genome sequencing completed in the first week of September.

Even though it looks like the virus is slowly disappearing, experts advised against any complacency.

As reported, Dr VK Paul, Niti Aayog member and chief of Covid taskforce, said: “The second Coronavirus wave is subsiding but not fair to say now that worst is over.”

In India, the festival season has already begun, and hence, it is crucial to follow the basic Covid-19 protocols to avoid the risk of infection.