India reports 2,59,551 Fresh COVID-19 cases , 4,209 deaths in last 24 hours

Mangalore Today News Network / NDTV

New Delhi, May 21, 2021:      New cases of coronavirus infection in India were recorded over 2.50 lakh, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 2,60,31,991 according to the Union Health Ministry data.

 

The COVID-19 active caseload is 30,27,925 which now comprises 11.63 per cent of the total infections.

The recovery rate is 87.25 per cent, the data stated.

A total of 2,59,551 new infections were registered in a day, while the death count increased to 2,91,331 with 4,209 daily new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.

Meanwhile, RT-PCR tests - widely believed to be the most accurate method to detect COVID-19 - will be cut to 40 per cent of total tests by the end of next month, far from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s plan to raise it to 70 per cent, the government announced on Thursday.

Instead, the government will depend up to 60 per cent on the less reliable antigen tests - in a significant departure from its earlier target - as it aims to double its testing capacity to 45 lakh per day by June end.

The announcement comes just two months after PM Modi advised states that RT-PCR should be 70 per cent of all tests and said there was "no pressure" if positive numbers were high.