COVID-19: India's coronavirus cases rise, but active cases decline - check these latest updates

COVID-19 Coronavirus Cases India: India logged 26,727 new coronavirus infections, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,37,66,707, while the active cases declined to 2,75,224, the lowest in 196 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.

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A total number of 89.02 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far under the Nationwide Vaccination Drive.

The death toll climbed to 4,48,339 with 277 fresh fatalities, according to the data updated at 8 AM.

The active cases comprise 0.82 per cent of the total infections, the lowest since March 2020, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 97.86 per cent, the highest since March 2020, the ministry said.

A decrease of 1,796 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

According to a PTI report, India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.

India crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23.

India saw a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases earlier this year due to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, the number of cases is decreasing but there is still the anticipation of the third wave among the minds of the people.

According to an ANI report, Dr Sekhar C Mande, Director General, CSIR said, "We have been able to get a large population vaccinated with the first dose and even with the second dose. Our vaccines do prevent the disease to a large extent. If tested positive after being jabbed, the severity of COVID-19 is also reduced. Even if the third wave comes, then the intensity will be low and much less compared to the second wave."

The ANI also reported that Mahindra Agarwal, Professor at IIT Kanpur had said that the emergence of another wave depends on the emergence of a more infectious strain.

It has to be noted that insurance regulator IRDAI ordered renewal and purchase of corona special policy for the next six months, that is, till March 31, 2022. The IRDAI had ordered the launch of special Corona Kavach Policy last year to provide relief to the common man, but the renewal of the policy was only till September 30, 2021. Now, the IRDAI had ordered renewal for another six months due to the anticipation of COVID-19 3rd wave.