India recorded 444 fresh Covid-19  infections on Tuesday taking the  total number of coronavirus patients in the country to 3,890 as the disease has started spreading again, according to the latest figures of the Union Health Ministry.

The number of new daily cases has been showing a regular increase in recent weeks and one death has been reported from Tamil Nadu.

The Centre has alerted the states to keep a close watch on the situation and ensure the protocol for prevention and control of the disease is followed in the affected areas.

Scientists are of the view that it is the milder omicron version of coronavirus and its sub-lineages that are currently circulating in India. The fact that most Indians have now been vaccinated is also helping to slow the spread of the disease.

According to the health ministry’s website, 220,64,55,841 crore doses of covid vaccine have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive, with at least 1,287 people receiving the injections in one day.