India on Thursday reported 16,946 new Covid-19 cases, and 198 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry.
The total confirmed cases of coronavirus in India stands at 1,05,12,093 as of Thursday. Meanwhile, the death toll stands at 1,51,727, reports India Today.
The country has 2,13,603 active cases and 1,01,46,763 recovered cases as of Thursday. A total of 17,652 discharges have been made in the last 24 hours.
On Wednesday, India reported 15,968 new Covid-19 cases and 202 deaths.
Even as cases grow and new strains emerge in some different parts of the world, India on Tuesday took the first big step in its lead up to the massive Covid vaccination drive scheduled for January 16 on Tuesday as the Serum Institute dispatched 100s of vials of the Covishield vaccine.
56 lakh doses of the Covid vaccine were flown to 13 cities across India from Pune and taken to designated national and state-level stores amid tight security on Tuesday.
The Centre said all the vaccine vials -- 1.1 crore of Covishield from the Serum Institute of India and 55 lakh of Covaxin from Bharat Biotech -- will be received by January 14.