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According to data from the Union health ministry, India registered 214 new coronavirus infections on Saturday, while the number of active cases slightly increased to 2,509.

With this, the overall COVID-19 case count has increased to 4.46 billion (4,46,79,761). The data updated at 8 am showed that four deaths — two reconciled by Kerala, one each reported from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh — occurred in the previous 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 5,30,718.

The rate of everyday positives was 0.11 percent. The health ministry website states that the weekly positive rate was 0.12 per cent. The ministry reported that the number of active cases is 0.01 percent of all infections and that the national COVID-19 recovery rate has risen to 98.80 per cent.

Covid Cases Increasing Globally, Precautions Being Taken, Says Mansukh Mandaviya

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya stated on Saturday that cases of Covid variants are increasing globally, and necessary precautions are being taken.

He further said that any traveller from one of the five listed countries must present a negative RTPCR report. The number of Covid positive passengers increased to 120 last week. All positive travellers were taken to isolation centres for treatment, news agency ANI reported citing the health minister. 

Ahead Of Scrapping Travel Restrictions, China Orders Release Of Covid Detainees: 

The Chinese government ordered the release of those imprisoned in connection with a number of coronavirus-related cases on Saturday, a day before Beijing plans to rescind its three-year-old stringently enforced zero-Covid policy.

China will lift its international isolation at 12 am on Sunday, allowing unrestricted access to its airports and ports amid a large coronavirus outbreak in the country.

Once the limitations are lifted, international travellers will be able to enter China without having to undergo nucleic acid tests or undergo quarantine.

The entire repeal of the travel restrictions comes at a time when China is dealing with a surge in coronavirus infections caused by Omicron strains, following the government’s relaxation of its tight zero-Covid policy last month in response to a wave of anti-government protests.

(With Agency Inputs)