India’s third wave has finally begun to recede: 75% Indians are now fully jabbed with the COVID-19 vaccine

In early signs of third wave plateauing/receding, the active cases decreased by 1,19,396 to reach 18,84,937 — 4.59 per cent of the total infections — while the country’s recovery rate stands at 93.89 per cent, as per the Health ministry.

A little more than a year after India began its nationwide vaccination drive, more than 75% of the eligible population has now been fully vaccinated. The cumulative number of vaccine doses administered in the country has now crossed 165.70 crores.

Even as some Indian states and cities witness a dip in Covid-19 cases, the risk persists and focus must be on reducing transmission, senior WHO official Poonam Khetrapal Singh warned.

The Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region said the risk of Covid-19 remains high and no country, irrespective of their current transmission scenario, is “out of the woods” yet, PTI reported.

Meanwhile, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya held a Covid review meeting with five eastern states on Saturday and asked them to remain vigilant despite a decline in coronavirus cases.

With 2,34,281 people testing positive for the coronavirus infection in a day, India’s total tally of cases increased to over 4.10 crore, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Sunday. The death toll climbed to 4,94,091 with 893 fatalities reported during the 24-hour period, the data updated at 8 am showed.

Cumulatively, 53,96,51,188 first doses have been administered to those in the 18-44 age group and 40,19,58,479 second doses have been given in the same age group since the start of phase-3 of the vaccination drive, according to health ministry data.

It said that cumulatively, 93,87,16,725 first doses have been administered while 70,57,49,826 second doses have been administered.