India reports 2.08 lakh COVID-19 cases, 4,157 deaths in 24 hours

In the last 24 hours, the country has reported 4,157 deaths apparently due to the virus taking the COVID-19 toll to 3.11 lakh.

However, health experts claim the toll is far higher in the country as several deaths were not registered with the government.

The figure of daily cases in India on Wednesday is far less as compared to the last several weeks, noting that the highest number of samples were tested in the last 24 hours.

A health worker collects swab samples of migrant workers arrived from other states for COVID-19 test at Patna railway station on Tuesday (Image Credit: UNI)

In 24 hours between Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, 22.17 lakh samples were tested showing a drop in the positivity rate.

The second wave of COVID-19 had led India to a massive crisis with the crumbling of its poor health infrastructure, hospitals running out of beds and oxygen supplies.

Several independent media reported that crematoriums were running day and night while parking lots were converted to crematoriums for the last rites of people who died of coronavirus.

A medical worker administering the dose of COVID vaccine to a man at Civil Hospital in Lucknow on Tuesday (Image Credit: UNI)

Though India has two anti-COVID-19 vaccines including an indigenous one in hand, the country is struggling to ramp up the vaccination drive owing to shortages across the country.

Despite opening up online registration for vaccination for all aged 18 or more from May 1, people by and large are unable to book a slot to get jabbed.

As per a report by News 18, there has been a 60 per cent drop last week from the highest vaccination figure, which was recorded between Apr 3 and 9.