New Delhi: The number of new cases of COVID-19 in India over the past 24 hours was 263; this represents a steadily falling trend, said the Union Health Ministry on Monday. The number of open cases has dropped to 4,709. In the three years since the epidemic began, the nation has reported about 44.9 million illnesses and 531,866 fatalities.

As per health experts, hospital admissions are declining along with the number of cases. However, they issued a warning that the elderly and those with comorbidities were still at risk for infection, advising them to get booster doses if they haven't previously and to follow the COVID-19 safety guidelines.

The recent incidences of the covid-19 variant, XBB.1.16, are now being encountered by a population that is establishing a hybrid immunity from both immunisations and spontaneous infections. According to scientists, the present versions are less severe and require fewer hospitalisations because of the widespread immunity.

About 445 million people have recovered from the virus, including 571 in the last day, bringing the recovery rate to an encouraging 98.80%.

States and Union Territories have been urged by the health ministry to use a risk-based strategy to stop and slow the spread of the virus. In order to keep the focus on efficient compliance and administration, emphasis has been made on micro-level examination of the COVID situation in districts and sub-districts.

The nationwide immunisation drive is still progressing. Over 220.66 crore doses have been given across the nation, with 500 doses given in the previous day.

According to the country's 263 newly reported cases of COVID in the past day, the trajectory of new COVID cases is steadily declining, the union health ministry announced on Monday. In addition, the quantity of open cases has decreased to 4709. India has reported more than 44.9 million illnesses and 531866 deaths connected to the pandemic in the last three years.

As per health experts, the decrease in reported occurrences of COVID has also led to a decrease in hospital admissions. Elderly adults with comorbid illnesses are still susceptible to infection, nevertheless. Doctors have also advised these patients to take their booster dose, if they haven't already, and to behave appropriately.

It should be highlighted that the covid-19 variation that caused the rise in recent months is XBB.1.16. Additionally, according to scientists, because to hybrid immunity that Indians have gained as a result of vaccinations and naturally occurring infections, the current covid-19 versions won't be able to induce hospitalisation because they are mild in nature.

5.71 individuals have recovered in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of persons who overcame the infection to 4.45 crore. The recovery rate is at 98.80%.

In the meantime, the state/UT government was instructed by the union health ministry to use a risk assessment-based strategy to stop and contain the virus. The health ministry recommended the state governments to assess the covid-19 situation at the local level (districts and sub-districts) and to keep their attention on putting the required measures in place for quick and effective management of covid-19 while also assuring effective compliance.

The Test-Track-Treat-Vaccination strategy is the five-step plan that the federal government has urged the states to implement. A day's worth of testing, or about 44,812 tests, brought the total to 92.93 crore.

More than 220.66 crore vaccine doses have now been given to citizens of the country as part of the COVID vaccination effort. An estimated 500 doses of vaccination had been given within the past 24 hours.