Witnessing a decline, India on Monday recorded 3,66,161 fresh Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours with 3,754 fatalities, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said. As of Sunday, India recorded 4.03 lakh cases for the fifth time after May 1, whereas on Friday, India recorded the highest ever 4,14,188 cases.
According to the Health Ministry, a total of 3,53,818 people have been discharged in the last 24 hours, while 1,86,71,222 people have been cured of Covid to date.
In the past 18 days, India's daily Covid tally has risen by over three lakh cases and over 3,000 casualties have been reported for the last 12 days.
India's total tally of Covid-19 cases now stands at 2,26,62,575 with 37,45,237 active cases and a total of 2,46,116 deaths so far.
The Health Ministry said that a total of 17,01,76,703 people have been vaccinated so far in the country, including 6,89,652, who were administered vaccines in the last 24 hours.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 30,37,50,077 samples have been tested up to May 10 for Covid-19. Of these 14,74,606 samples were tested on Sunday.
Vaccination only a long-term solution for India - Fauci
Meantime, America's top public health expert and Chief Medical Adviser to US President Joe Biden, Dr Anthony Fauci has said getting people vaccinated is the only long-term solution to the current COVID-19 crisis in India.
“The endgame of this all is going to be to get people vaccinated. India is the largest vaccine-producing country in the world. They've got to get their resources, not only from within but also from without,” Fauci said.
Further adding that a nationwide lockdown is necessary for at least a few weeks to break the “continuity and transmission of infection.” He also suggested mass vaccination to prevent the current spread of the deadly disease across India.
Several states impose lockdown or stricter curbs
Many states have imposed lockdown or strict curbs as the Covid-19 catastrophe continues. In Delhi, Metro services have been discontinued and more than 20 people are allowed in weddings as the national capital is set to see stricter lockdown till May 17.
The Uttar Pradesh government too has extended the lockdown till May 17 amid rising Covid-19 cases in the state, while Tamil Nadu has declared a 14-day complete lockdown from May 10. The Karnataka and Rajasthan governments have also announced a complete lockdown from May 10 to 24.