Covid-19: India's Virus Tally Reaches 1,04,31,639; Death Toll At 1,50,798

New Delhi: The Covid-19 tally in India climbed to 1,04,31,639 with 18,222 new cases in a day, while 1,00,56,651 people have recovered so far pushing the national recovery rate to 96.41 percent on Saturday, according to the data of Union Health Ministry.

Meanwhile, there are 2,24,190 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which constitutes 2.16 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.

The total coronavirus cases mounted to 1,04,31,639 and the death toll climbed to 1,50,798 with the novel coronavirus virus claiming 228 lives in a span of 24 hours in the country, the data updated at 8 am showed.

The Covid-19 case fatality rate stood at 1.45 per cent. Maharashtra continues to be the worst-hit state with 1,954,553 total cases.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, a total of 18,02,53,315 samples have been tested so far -- 9,16,951 of them on Friday -- for coronavirus infection.

About percent of the daily new cases are being reported by 10 states and union territory -- Kerala, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.

On Wednesday, the government deployed a high level Central Team to Kerala to review the public health interventions in the management of the pandemic by the state government and support the health authorities in these measures.

Meanwhile, the most-awaited mass vaccination drive is slated to begin soon, with the approval of two vaccines.

The Centre has planned to vaccinate nearly 30 crore people in the first phase.

It will be offered to 1 crore healthcare workers; 2 crore frontline and essential workers; 26 crore people above the age of 50; and 1 crore below 50 with comorbidities.

(With PTI Inputs)