The Union health ministry has directed states and union territories to follow a risk assessment-based approach to prevent and contain the infection New Delhi: India reported 10,753 new coronavirus infections over the last 24 hours, pushing up the active case tally to 53,720, the Union health ministry said in an update on Saturday.
Positivity rate stands at 6.78%, with total reported cases so far at 44.9 million and death toll at 531,091. Active cases now comprise 0.12% of total infections while the national recovery rate stands at 98.69%, as per the ministry.
According to epidemiologists, covid cases have been doubling every four to five days. Scientists have said that the XBB.1.16 variant of coronavirus is responsible for the current surge.
But in a relief, the infection is supposed to be milder in nature and may not lead to a rise in hospitalisation rate as Indians have likely developed hybrid immunity due to vaccination and natural exposure to the disease.