According to figures from the Union health ministry, India’s daily tally of Covid-19 infections increased substantially on Thursday, with 3,17,532 instances registered in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 38,218,773.
In the previous 24 hours, 491 people have died across the country, bringing the total death toll to 4,87,693.
There are currently 19,24,051 active cases.
Up to January 19, a total of 70,93,56,830 samples had been analyzed, with 19,35,180 being tested yesterday.
Pandemic funds not received
Meanwhile, the Department of Biotechnology has disbursed less than 15% of a Rs 900 crore fund for Covid-19 vaccine development promised more than a year ago, and multiple government research agencies claim they haven’t received any money from a Rs 100 crore fund set up under the PMO during the first wave of the pandemic.
Increase in cases in Assam
For the third day in a row, Assam saw the biggest single-day increase in COVID-19 cases, with 8,339 persons testing positive, bringing the total to 6,70,128, according to Health Minister Keshab Mahanta.
On January 18 and 17, the state recorded 8,072 and 6,982 new cases, respectively. There are currently 35,161 active COVID-19 cases.
Positivity rate spike
According to a National Health Mission (NHM) bulletin, the new cases were discovered from 64,699 sample tests conducted on Wednesday, with a positivity rate of 12.89 percent.
Mr Mahanta said the Kamrup Metropolitan, which includes Guwahati city, had 1,929 new cases.
On Tuesday, the district saw its largest single-day increase, with 1,996 new cases discovered.
