Coronavirus India Updates: Tally Tops 1.02 Crore; Active Cases Decline
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India added the fewest coronavirus cases in nearly six months, defying concerns so far about an influx during the festivities and a new mutant strain in the U.K.
Authorities reported 20,021 fresh cases in 24 hours taking the total tally to over 1.02 crore in the world’s second-worst infected country, according to the Health Ministry’s update as of 8 a.m. on Dec. 28. This includes 1,47,901 deaths and 97,82,669 patients who have recovered.
New cases remained below 25,000 for more than a week. Daily recoveries have stayed ahead of fresh additions since Nov. 28. One-day fatalities too remained below 300 for the third consecutive day.
The slower pace of India’s daily infections and an improved recovery rate have kept active cases in India below the 3-lakh-mark for the seventh day in a row. That’s just 2.7% of the total caseload. India’s active cases had crossed 10 lakh in mid-September.
Key figures:
- Total number of confirmed coronavirus cases: 10207871
- Active cases: 277301
- Cured/discharged/migrated: 9782669
- Deaths: 147901
- Number of fresh cases in last 24 hours: 20021
- One-day recoveries: 21131
- One-day deaths: 279
Several states and cities in India have re-imposed some lockdown restrictions amid year-end festivities to ensure that infections remain in check. Besides, a new, more infectious mutant of coronavirus, detected in the U.K., has renewed fears about another wave in India. The nation has already cancelled all flights to and from the U.K. till at least Dec. 31.
Maharashtra has imposed a night curfew across all civic corporations from restricting movement between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Karnataka imposed a night curfew but has now withdrawn that order. Punjab, too, lifted its night curfew on Thursday night for Christmas eve. States have also started putting in institutional quarantine for travellers who may have returned from the U.K.
Global Update
Globally, confirmed coronavirus cases passed 80.7 million, including 1.76 million deaths.
Concern about the mutated strain first detected in Britain grew in Asia, with Japan banning the entry of most foreigners through the end of January. Sydney will restrict crowds watching the New Year’s Eve fireworks display as a Northern Beaches virus cluster grew to 126.
A coordinated vaccination campaign was under way in Europe, just days after the European Union cleared a shot developed by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE. The U.K. could clear AstraZeneca Plc’s vaccine as early as this week.