India records 2.6 lakh fresh COVID-19 cases, 1501 deaths in last 24 hours

Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare also chaired a high-level review meeting with the Health Ministers of 11 States/UTs to review measures taken by the States/UTs for prevention, containment and management of the recent surge in COVID-19 cases.

By Nitin Anand Published on April 18, 2021, 11:59 IST

On Sunday, April 18, Union Health Ministry released the data of new COVID-19 cases in India, after that India reached the milestone of highest single day surge.

Report released by the Union Health Ministry states that in the last 24 hours, India reported 2,61,500 new COVID-19 cases and reached the milestone of highest single day surge and 1,23,354 patients got discharge, while 1,501 people died of this deadly virus. Total active cases in India is now around 18.01 lakhs. Total death toll in India reached to 1,77,150.

India reports 2,61,500 new #COVID19 cases, 1,501 fatalities and 1,38,423 discharges in the last 24 hours, as per Union Health Ministry

Total cases: 1,47,88,109
Active cases: 18,01,316
Total recoveries: 1,28,09,643
Death toll: 1,77,150

Total vaccination: 12,26,22,590 pic.twitter.com/poAunmqGzW

— ANI (@ANI) April 18, 2021

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) also released a that shows 26,65,38,416 samples were tested up to April 18 including 15,66,394 samples tested yesterday. And total vaccination done till now stands at 12,26,22,590.

The total vaccinations across the country has crossed more than 12.25 crore mark with more than 25.65 lakh vaccine doses administered till 8 pm yesterday. While today, 60,057 COVID Vaccination Centres (CVCs) were operational, marking a rise of more than 15,000 operational Vaccination Centres (45,000 CVCs on an average are functional on any given day). Workplace vaccinations have also enabled such a high turnout of beneficiaries.

The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country stands at 12, 25,02,790.

Earlier, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare also chaired a high-level review meeting with the Health Ministers of 11 States/UTs to review measures taken by the States/UTs for prevention, containment and management of the recent surge in COVID-19 cases. The meeting lasted for more than three hours. These States/UT including Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, West Bengal, Delhi, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh are reporting an unprecedented surge in new COVID cases.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan exhorted the States to plan in advance and increase COVID hospitals, oxygenated beds and other relevant infrastructure to deal with any further surge in cases. He requested the States to give special focus on the prominent 5-6 cities in their administration, map medical colleges to either these cities or adjoining 2-3 districts. The States were asked to seek out positive cases with the onset of early symptoms so that prompt and effective treatment checks the deterioration of health in the diseased.

Large containment zones for achieving community quarantine were also suggested as a strategy.

The Union Minister reminded the States to send the clinical and epidemiological pictures to assess genomic mutants of the pathogen to the coordinating INSACOG nodal officer and attempt to correlate the public health scenario with the clinical picture. Director, NCDC informed on the steps taken for genome sequencing to understand the issues related to the mutant strains.