India reported a total of 28,336 fresh Covid cases and 260 deaths in the last 24 hours, even as over 85 crore people have been vaccinated, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Sunday.

The new cases reported were slightly lesser than what was recorded on Saturday. However, 290 deaths were reported on Saturday. The total death count in the country stands at 4,46,918.

The active cases have seen a rise of total 2,034 cases in the last 24 hours, pushing the total India’s active caseload to 3,03,476, which accounts for less than of one per cent of total Covid cases of India, as per the Union Health Ministry updates. The total active cases in India is 0.90 per cent of the total caseload.

India’s recovery rate from the ongoing pandemic currently stands at 97.77 per cent. As per the health bulletin, a total of 26,032 people have recovered from Covid in the last 24 hours, pushing the total recovery data to 3,29,02,351.

The testing capacity across the country continues to be increasing. The last 24 hours saw a total of 14,88,945 tests being conducted. India has so far conducted over 56,32,43,245 tests.

The weekly positive rate in India is less than 3 per cent for 93 days and currently stands at 1.98 per cent. The daily positivity rate is also less than 3 per cent from the last 27 days and presently stands at 1.90 per cent.

Under the mass vaccination drive, a total of 68,42,786 vaccine doses were administered in the last 24 hours.

India’s Covid-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 85 crore and stands at 85,60,81,537 as per provisional reports till 7 a.m. Sunday. This has been achieved through 83,64,110 sessions.

Andhra Pradesh’s coastal districts were on alert on Sunday as cyclonic storm ‘Gulab’ in Bay of Bengal is likely to cross north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coasts.

Authorities in north coastal Andhra districts were alerted to be prepared as the region is likely to experience heavy rains under the impact of the cyclone which is expected to make a landfall between Kalingapatnam and Gopalpur on Sunday evening.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued cyclone warning for north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts.

According to the IMD, ‘Gulab’ lay centred over northwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal about 270 km east-southeast of Gopalpur (Odisha) and 330 km east of Kalingapatnam (Andhra Pradesh).

It is likely to move nearly westwards and cross north Andhra Pradesh – south Odisha coasts between Kalingapatnam and Gopalpur around evening of 26th September, the IMD said.

Cyclone Warning Centre Visakhapatnam warned that tidal wave of about 0.5 m height above the astronomical tide likely to inundate low lying areas of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Ganjam districts during the time of landfall.

The cyclonic storm is likely to trigger heavy rains at one or two places over Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts over the next 24 hours. The IMD has issued red warning for these districts.

Heavy to very heavy fall at a few places very likely over East Godavari, West Godavari districts and Yanam. Heavy rainfall very likely to occur at one or two places over south coastal Andhra Pradesh, the IMD bulletin said.

Squally wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph likely to prevail along and off north Andhra Pradesh coast.

It will gradually increase becoming gale wind speed reaching 75-85 kmph gusting to 95 kmph from afternoon of September 26 till midnight along and off north Andhra Pradesh (Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts).

Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 65 kmph likely to prevail over remaining districts of coastal Andhra Pradesh.

As sea condition will be rough to very rough, fishermen have been advised not to venture into the rough waters till Monday.

Tidal wave of about 0.5 m height above the astronomical tide likely to inundate low lying areas of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Ganjam districts during the time of landfall.

Local cautionary signal- III was hoisted at Visakhapatnam, Gangavaram and Kakinada ports. Distant Warning Signal – II was hoisted at Machilipatnam, Nizampatnam and Krishnapatnam ports.

Strong winds and very Heavy/extremely heavy rainfall are likely to damage thatched huts, cause minor damage to power and communication lines due to breaking of branches and uprooting of trees, major damage to Kutcha and minor damage to pucca roads, some damage to paddy crops, banana, papaya trees and orchards, sea water inundation in low lying areas after erosion of Kutcha embankments, localized Flooding of roads, inundation and water logging in low lying areas and closure of underpasses mainly in urban areas of the region.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy held a review meeting on the preparedness in wake of cyclone alert and directed the officials to take all necessary steps.

The officials informed the Chief Minister that they have alerted district collectors and suggested to take all necessary steps.

They said control rooms were setup village secretariat wise and added that they have readied disaster management staff in Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam districts.

The district collectors are taking steps to setup relief camps at required locations, the officials said.

The Chief Minister directed the officials to be alert and take necessary steps as there are chances of heavy rains after cyclonic storm crosses the coast.

 On its 66th foundation day on Saturday, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi installed a Vitros Dry chemistry automated system that can conduct 50 diagnostic tests and present the results in 2-3 hours. The Dry Chemistry automated machine will save around 2 crore litres of water per year.

Union Health Minister Mansik Mandaviya digitally inaugurated the high throughput lab where the system has been installed in the RAK building.

Along with the Minister of State for Health, Mandaviya also inaugurated an exhibition on the theme ‘Digital Health and Medical Education’ to mark the institute’s 66th foundation day.

The automated system will significantly reduce the burden of laboratory medicine. There will be no involvement of water during the tests.

“This will vastly improve patient care, as we are going to get the results of the tests in just three hours,” said Subroto Sinha, HoD, Lab Medicine and Dean Research.

He added that previously, the doctors used to work on limited parameters and then in-depth investigation of sample was sent on the next day. Now the doctors can plan their treatment immediately with the help of this system.

It will vastly improve patient care as almost 50 parameters for tests will now be available at any point of time everyday.

The system can present the results of over 50 types of tests with a single vial of blood.