India recorded 276,110 new Covid-19 cases

NEW DELHI: India recorded 276,110 new cases of the coronavius disease (Covid-19) in a 24-hour span, the Union health ministry data showed on Thursday morning.

The total tally of the viral infection now stands at 25,772,440. Thursday’s numbers show India continues to maintain a downward trend in daily Covid-19 cases after the number of cases hovered above 300,000 in the deadly second wave of the infection.

In a positive development, the number of single-day fatalities dipped with 3,874 people succumbing to the disease.

This comes days after the country has been witnessing a surge in daily fatalities. On Wednesday, 4,529 people died of Covid-19 in a highest single-day spike so far.

On the vaccination front, the cumulative number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has reached 18.58 crore.

A total of 18,58,09,302 vaccine doses have been administered through 27,10,934 sessions, as per the provisional report by the health minist on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Centre approved the first home test for Covid-19 on Wednesday, allowing people to buy a kit that costs ₹250 and gives results within 15 minutes.

The kit has been manufactured by Pune-based Mylab Discovery Solutions Ltd and it is a rapid antigen test (RAT).

According to the guidelines by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the kit should be used only by those who have Covid-19 symptoms or had close contact with an infected person.