India's active caseload has fallen to 2.14 lakh, which is the lowest after 197 days, and its share in the total cases has further shrunk to 2.04 per cent, the Union Health Ministry said on Wednesday. 

The total active cases were 2,15,125 on June 30, 2020. A net decline of 2051 cases has been recorded in the total active cases in a span of 24 hours.

"The share of active cases in the total cases has further shrunk to 2.04 per cent. This is lowest after 197 days," the ministry said. The daily cases in India are registering a consistent decline on a daily basis, the ministry underlined.

Less than 16,000 daily new cases (15,968) were added to the national tally in a span of 24 hours while 17,817 recoveries were registered during the same period. "Recoveries outnumbering new cases have ensured a steady fall in the active cases," the ministry said.

India's COVID-19 caseload increased to 1,04,95,147 with 15,968 infections being reported in a day, while the recoveries have surged to 1,01,29,111 pushing the national recovery rate to 96.51 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday. The deaths increased to 1,51,529 with 202 daily new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,01,29,111 pushing the national COVID-19 recovery rate to 96.51 per cent, while the COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.44 per cent. The COVID-19 active caseload remained below 3 lakh.

Meanwhile, the first stage of the rollout of the vaccines against the coronavirus began with Serum Institute of India - the manufacturer of Oxford University's Covishield - shipping out its first lot of vials. The Union Health Ministry said the inoculation programme, billed as the world's largest, is on track.

Four more COVID-19 vaccines are being developed and their manufacturers may approach the drug controller for emergency use authorisation, the Health Ministry. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said Zydus Cadila, Sputnik V, Biological E and Gennova are other vaccines that are currently in an advanced clinical trials stage in India. 

There will be a gap of 28 days between two doses of COVID-19 vaccine and its effectiveness will begin 14 days after the second dose, the Health Ministry said. Mr Bhushan said vaccine effectiveness will be seen only after 14 days.

BDST: 1520 HRS, JAN 13, 2021
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