The COVID-19 recovered cases are now double of active cases in the country. Currently, the recovered cases are over 12.30 lakh. 

With this, the recovery rate has gone up to an impressive 66.30 per cent. 

The fatality rate is also the lowest at 2.10 percent since the first lockdown.

Briefing media in New Delhi today, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said, the fatality rate has seen a progressive decline and it is continuing. 

He said, over two crore COVID tests have been conducted so far.  In the last 24 hours, over 6.6 lakh tests have been conducted.

He added that many states have increased their testing capacity, both RT – PCR and Rapid Antigen tests and 24 States and UTs have more tests per million than national average.

The Secretary also said around 50 percent of deaths due to COVID-19 in India have taken place in the age group of 60 years and above. 

About 37 percent deaths have taken place in the age group of 45 to 60 years. 

Mr. Bhushan informed that about 68 per cent of COVID-19 deaths have been reported among male patients and 32 per cent among female patients in India.

The Secretary said, 28 states and UTs have a COVID-19 positivity rate of less than 10 per cent, while India’s positivity rate as on date is 8.89 per cent. 

Replying to a question, he said, the coronavirus infection has spread to new areas in the country, but 82 per cent of the total cases are still limited to ten states and Union Territories.

He added that 50 districts today account for 66 per cent of the COVID-19 caseload in the country.

Director General, ICMR , Dr Balram Bhargava informed that Oxford vaccine, being manufactured by Serum Institute of India, has  got approval for phase 2 and 3 clinical trials. He said, it is starting within a week at 17 sites.