India adds 13,203 Covid-19 cases, 131 deaths; tally over 10.66 million

With 13,203 new cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), the lowest in more than eight months, and 131 related deaths in the last 24 hours, India's caseload has gone past 10.66 million, according to the Union ministry of health and family welfare on Monday. The numbers of infections and deaths on Monday morning were lower than Sunday's 14,849 cases and 155 fatalities respectively, data showed. The active cases of the coronavirus disease also remained below 185,500 for the second day in a row at 184,182.

There were 13,298 patients who were cured of the viral disease between Sunday and Monday morning, which have pushed India's recoveries to 10,330,084 and the recovery rate to 96.83%. The country's death toll is now at 153,470, according to the health ministry's dashboard at 8am.

The dashboard also showed that over 1.6 million healthcare workers have been inoculated so far in the countrywide vaccination drive, which started on January 16. The health ministry had said on Sunday that India took only six days to roll out 1 million vaccine doses.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has said 19,23,37,117 samples were tested for Covid-19 up to January 24. Of these, 570,246 samples were tested on Saturday, it added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said scientists have done their duty by developing the Covid-19 vaccine and that "now we have to fulfil ours" by defeating the network spreading lies and rumours about the vaccination. "Indian scientists have done their duty by developing the coronavirus vaccine and now we have to fulfil ours. We have to defeat every network spreading lies and rumours with the right information," Modi said.

The Prime Minister said the youth should now come forward to assist in the Covid-19 vaccination programme by providing the right information to the people while addressing tribal guests, National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets, National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers and tableaux artists who would be a part of the upcoming Republic Day parade on Tuesday.

"You need to take it to the next level now. Your reach is in all parts of society. I request you to come forward to help the country with the COVID-19 vaccination programme. You have to provide the right information on vaccines to the poor and general public," Modi said.