India recorded 16,051 new Covid-19 cases and 206 deaths in the past 24 hours until 8 am on Monday. This is a decrease from the 19,968 cases reported on Sunday, as per data from the Union Ministry of Health. The active caseload currently stands at 2,02,131, which is 0.47% of the total cases.

The total number of infections in India has now reached 4,28,38,524, with the death toll standing at 5,12,109.

In West Bengal, the Covid-19 tally has risen to 20,13,353 with 278 new infections reported in the last 24 hours, resulting in a positivity rate of 0.91%, according to a bulletin from the state health department on Sunday.

In Maharashtra, Thane district saw an increase in infection count to 7,07,986 with the addition of 74 new cases reported on Sunday, as confirmed by an official on Monday. The death toll remains at 11,862, with a mortality rate of 1.67% in the district.

In Palghar district, the Covid-19 case count has reached 1,63,306, with 3,391 deaths reported, according to another official.

Meanwhile, daily Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations in the US are on the decline, indicating a weakening hold of the variant across the country. The total confirmed cases reported on Saturday barely surpassed 100,000, a significant drop from around 800,850 five weeks ago on January 16, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Additionally, international tourists and business travelers are now arriving in Australia with minimal restrictions for the first time in almost two years after the government lifted some of the strictest pandemic measures in the world. Vaccinated travelers were welcomed at Sydney’s airport by enthusiastic well-wishers waving toy koalas and offering Australian treats like Tim Tams and Vegemite.