India records 18,711 fresh cases, recovery rate drops to 96.95 pc

New Delhi, Mar 7 (Agency) India recorded 18,711 fresh cases of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) infections in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry said on Sunday. This is the highest daily tally the country saw in 59 days.

With the new cases, the pandemic tally of the country reached to a total of 11,210,799 cases while 1,08,68,520 people recovered from the contagion. According to the government data, the recovery rate has dropped further to 96.95 per cent. The active cases registered an increase for the fifth consecutive day, presently recorded at 4,219.3, constituting 1.65 per cent of the total infections.

With 100 fresh fatalities in the last 24 hours, the deadly virus claimed 1,57,756 people in the country, so far. Among the deaths, 47 are from Maharashtra, followed by 16 from Kerala and 12 from Punjab. Meanwhile, 2,09,22,344 people got Covid vaccines as part of the nationwide vaccination drive, which is in its second phase. The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 last and vaccination of the frontline workers started on February 2.