The Centre has directed seven states--Delhi, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana--reporting a surge of covid cases to continue to monitor the spread of infection and advised them to increase the pace of vaccination NEW DELHI: India reported 16,561 fresh coronavirus infections and 49 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per the health ministry’s update on Friday.
The country’s active caseload currently stands at 1,23,535, with total reported cases since March 2020--when the pandemic hit--4.42 crore.
Total death toll stands at 5,26,928. The national capital, meanwhile, has announced a mask mandate again following a rise in infections over the past fortnight.
People caught without masks in public places in the national capital will have to pay a fine of 500 rupees. Around 207.47crore vaccine doses have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive, with 17,72,441 doses administered in the last 24 hours.