India recorded 3,66,161 fresh Covid-19 cases and 3,754 related deaths in the last 24 hours, the Union Ministry of Health said on Monday.
With the fresh cases and fatalities, the country’s cumulative total has mounted to 2,26,62,575 and 2,46,116, respectively.
However, as compared to the usual 18-19 lakh samples a day, only 14.74 lakh samples were tested on Sunday, ICMR data stated, adding that 30,37,50,077 samples have been tested up to May 10.
Total 17,01,76,603 people have been administered COVID-19 vaccines since January 16, 2021, with 6,89,652 being inoculated against the virus in the past 24 hrs.
World Health Organization’s Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan has said that B.1.617 variant of the coronavirus, which was detected in India back in October last year, is the reason behind the devastating Covid surge in the country. Though WHO has not added the new mutant in its ‘variant of concern’ list, Swaminathan said that B.1.617 has a higher degree of transmission rate and may also escape the vaccine immunity.
The Modi govt has so far said that the double mutant is a key factor for the second wave. But it needs more clinical research on the same, she added.
