New Delhi: India Monday reported 16,866 news COVID-19 cases, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday. India on Sunday had reported 20,279 new infections. India's active caseload presently stands at 1,50,877. Its daily positivity rate is at 7.03 percent. A total of 41 deaths were reported with 18,148 recoveries in the last 24 hours, the ministry said. Out of the total of 2,02,17,66,615 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in India so far, 16,82,390 doses were administered under the Nationwide Vaccination Drive in the last 24 hours. The Union Government is committed to boosting the pace and expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination all through the country. The nationwide COVID-19 vaccination commenced on January 16, 2021. As part of the nationwide vaccination drive, India Government has been supporting the States and Union territories by providing them with COVID-19 Vaccines free of cost. In the new phase of the universalisation of the COVID vaccination drive, the Union Government will procure and supply (free of cost) 75 percent of the vaccines being produced by the vaccine manufacturers in the country to States and UTs. The new phase of universalisation of coronavirus vaccination started on June 21, 2021. The vaccination drive has been ramped up through the availability of more vaccines, advance visibility of vaccine availability to States and UTs so as to enable better planning and streamlining of the vaccine supply chain. Efficient COVID-19 biosensor under development BA.5 sub-variant of Omicron found in Maharashtra, people in panic Central govt took this big step amidst the rising cases of the corona