India records 3.47 lakh new Covid cases, 703 more deaths

New Delhi, January 21

India added 3,47,254 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of Covid cases to 3,85,66,027 which includes 9,692 cases of the omicron variant, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.

The active cases have increased to 20,18,825, the highest in 235 days, while the death toll has climbed to 4,88,396 with 703 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated.

There has been a 4.36 per cent increase in omicron cases since Thursday, the ministry said.

The active cases comprised 5.23 per cent of the total infections, while the national Covid recovery rate had decreased to 93.5 per cent, the ministry said.

An increase of 94,774 cases has been recorded in the active Covid caseload in a span of  24 hours.

The 703 new fatalities include 341 from Kerala and 43 from Delhi.

A total of 4,88,3961 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 1,41,971 from Maharashtra, 51,501 from Kerala, 38,515 from Karnataka, 37,112 from Tamil  Nadu, 25,503 from Delhi, 23,000 from Uttar Pradesh and 20,230 from West Bengal.