Five states cumulatively account for 82.96% of the total active cases in the country

Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu continue to report a surge in the COVID-19 daily cases. They cumulatively account for 85.6% of the new cases reported in the past 24 hours.

In the last 24 hours, 23,285 new cases were registered. Maharashtra has reported the highest daily new cases at 14,317 (61.48% of the daily new cases) followed by Kerala with 2,133 while Punjab reported 1,305 new cases.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India’s total Active Caseload has reached 1,97,237 on Friday. India’s present active caseload now stands at 1.74% of India’s total Positive Cases.

Five states cumulatively account for 82.96% of the total active cases in the country. Two states – Maharashtra and Kerala- account for 71.69% of India’s total active cases.

“The Centre is actively engaging with all State and UT governments, especially those showing an upsurge in daily new cases and with a high caseload of active cases. The Union Government is regularly reviewing the status of COVID containment and public health measures with them,” the statement read.

“Recently, the Centre rushed high level Public Health teams to Maharashtra and Punjab to assist in COVID-19 control and containment measures in view of recent spike in cases in these States,” it added.

The Central Government had earlier also deputed high-level teams to Maharashtra, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Jammu and Kashmir to support them in their fight against the recent spike in COVID-19 cases.

The Health Ministry noted that the reports of Central Teams are shared with the States for further follow up action. The follow up and compliance on part of states is monitored by the Union Ministry of Health.

Over 26 million vaccine doses administered

More than 2.61 crore (2,61,64,920) vaccine doses have been administered through 4,87,919 sessions, as per the provisional report till 7 am today.

These include 72,23,071 Healthcare Workers (HCWs) - 1st dose, 40,56,285 HCWs - 2nd dose, 71,21,124 Frontline Workers (FLWs) -1st dose, 6,72,794 FLWs - 2nd Dose, 10,30,612 beneficiaries aged more than 45 years with specific comorbidities (1st Dose) and 60,61,034 beneficiaries aged more than 60 years.

4,80,740 vaccine doses were given on Day-55 of the vaccination drive (11th March, 2021). 4,02,138 beneficiaries were vaccinated across 9,751 sessions for 1st dose (HCWs and FLWs) and 78,602 HCWs and FLWs received 2nd dose of vaccine.

About the recoveries, the Health Ministry noted more than 1.09 Crore (1,09,53,303) people have recovered so far. 15,157 patients have recovered and got discharged in the last 24 hours.

“The gap between recovered and active cases is constantly increasing and currently stands at 1,07,56,066,” the Health ministry said.

Meanwhile, 117 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours.

Six states account for 82.91%of the new deaths. Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties (57). Punjab follows with 18 daily deaths and Kerala reported 13 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Nineteen states and Union Territories (UTs) have not reported any COVID19 deaths in the last 24 hours.

These are Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chandigarh, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Manipur, Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Mizoram, Ladakh (UT), Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Tripura, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.