Amid H3N2 scare, daily Covid tally crosses 800; Active infections rises over 5,300

Amid concerns over a rise in H3N2 influenza cases, India's single-day tally of COVID-19 cases crossed 800 after 126 days on Saturday, while the number of active cases climbed to 5,389, according to Union health ministry data.

With 843 fresh infections, the country's caseload increased to 4.46 crore (4,46,94,349). The death toll rose to 5,30,799 with four fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated.

While Jharkhand and Maharashtra reported one death each, two were reconciled by Kerala.

At 5,839, the active cases now comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections. The national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.80 per cent, according to the health ministry website.

Experts suggests XBB.1 descendant, XBB.1.16, may be the reason for the current spike in Covid cases in India. The death toll rose to 5,30,799 with four fatalities, as per the data updated at 8 am on Saturday.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,58,161 and the case fatality rate stands at 1.19 per cent.

According to the ministry's website, 220.64 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered under the nationwide vaccination drive.

Centre asked six states - Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka - to follow a risk assessment-based approach to prevent and contain the spread of Covid-19 infections, citing possible localised spread of the virus.

"There are a few states which are reporting higher numbers of cases indicating possible localised spread of infection," Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in a letter to these states.