New Delhi: India recorded 16,375 new cases of coronavirus, the lowest in over six months, taking the country's COVID-19 caseload to 1,03,56,844, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday.
The death toll increased to 1,49,850 with 201 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.
India continued its streak of low daily new cases as the fresh infection numbers remained below 20,000 for the fourth consecutive day.
Till now, 99,75,958 have recovered. Currently, there are 2,31,036 active cases. The recovery rate stands at 96.32 per cent while the fatality rate is 1.45 as per cent.
The total number of samples tested up to January 4 is 17,65,31,997 including 8,96,236 samples tested on Monday, the Indian Council of Medical Research said.
Maharashtra continues to be the worst-hit state till date. Over 84 per cent of the daily new cases are being reported by 10 states -- Kerala, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.
Mass vaccination drive is slated to begin soon, with approval of two vaccines.
The central government plans to vaccinate nearly 30 crore people in the first phase of drive. It will be offered to one crore healthcare workers, along with 2 crore frontline and essential workers and 27 crore elderly, mostly above the age of 50 years with comorbidities.
(With IANS Inputs)