New Delhi: India added 3.43 lakh fresh COVID-19 cases on Thursday. The death count has touched 2,62,317 lakh with 4,000 people dying of the infection. The country’s caseload of 2,40,46,809 now includes 37,04,893 active cases, 2,00,79,599 recoveries and 2,62,317 deaths. Maharashtra contributed 42,582 new cases on Thursday, while Kerala reported 39,955. Uttar Pradesh is no longer in the top five contributors.
Andhra Pradesh has stepped in with more than 22,000 cases. Of the toll reported on Thursday, Maharashtra contributed 882 deaths, while 344 came from Karnataka.India’s coronavirus numbers over the last two weeks suggest the second wave may have reached its peak, or will in the next few days. However, the end of the second wave may still be a long distance away. India’s cases, which touched 4.14 lakh last Thursday, have dropped significantly in the last one week.
The Centre on Thursday revealed it was in touch with three global vaccine manufacturers — Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson — to supply to India. It said the pharma giants had communicated they would be able to open discussions only “in Q3, 2021”. Even so, V K Paul, Member (Health), Niti Aayog, said over two billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines could become available in the country in five months between August and December, enough to vaccinate the entire adult population.
