The number of daily Covid-19 cases rose again, to 16,156 from the tally recorded the day before (13,451). According to the Union health ministry’s data updated on Thursday morning, India’s total tally increased to 3,42,31,809, and the active cases declined to 1,60,989. The ministry had added 12,428 cases on Tuesday morning.

The toll climbed to 4,56,386 with 733 fresh deaths, including 622 from Kerala, according to the data updated at 8 am. Of the 622 deaths in Kerala, 93 were reported in the last few days, while 330 were not confirmed until June 18 last year due to lack of adequate documentation and 199 were designated as Covid-19 deaths after receiving appeals based on the new guidelines of the Centre and Supreme Court directions, a state government release said.