India reports over 50,000 more coronavirus cases

By Shuriah Niazi

NEW DELHI (AA) - India surpassed the 30 million mark in COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, registering 50,848 additional infections in the last 24 hours, according to the latest data released by the Ministry of Health.

The death toll in India now stands at 390,660 with 1,358 more deaths registered over the past day, showed the data.

India has administered a total of over 294.6 million vaccine doses, with nearly 5.5 million doses given in the last 24 hours, according to a provisional report issued by the government.

India has also been witnessing a continuous fall in its active caseload, which as of Wednesday stands at 643,194, the lowest in 82 days, indicated the data.

Following a decision to reopen schools, authorities said on Tuesday that this would need to be carried out cautiously.

"We should take risks only when we are protected. Schools are places of large gatherings, which give the virus the opportunity to infect," said V.K. Paul of NITI Aayog, a government think-tank.

"The decision to reopen schools is not easy when an unpredictable situation is prevailing in the society," he added.