COVID-19 claimed 20 more lives in Manipur, pushing the death toll to 612, while the number of state's COVID-19 caseload surged to 40,683 as 624 more tested positive for the viral infection in a span of 24 hours, according to the latest update from the state health department.

Of the COVID-19 fatalities recorded in the state on Tuesday, nine were from Imphal East, five from Imphal West, two from Churachandpur and one each from Senapati, Thoubal and Ukhrul, a release issued by the COVID-19 Common Control Room stated.

As per the release, the highest  number of new COVID-19 cases were reported from Imphal West and Imphal East with 270 and 129 cases respectively. The other new COVID-19 positive cases included 67 from Bishnupur, 43 each from Thoubal and Churachandpur, 32 from Kakching,18 from Chandel, seven from Ukhrul,    four from Noney, three from Senapati, two each from Tamenglong, Tengnoupal, Kangpokpi and Pherzawl, it stated.

All necessary medical precautionary measures like containment and contact tracing are in place, the release stated.

It further stated that 337 more persons recovered from COVID-19, taking the cumulative number of recovered cases to 33,466. The recovery rate stands at  82.26 per cent, it added.

With it, the number of COVID-19 active cases in Manipur is 6,605.

The state health department have asked air passengers who travelled to the State on May 14, 2021 by Air lndia Al-715 in rows 8-14 to inform the Common Covid Control Room 1800-345-3818 or respective District Surveillance Officers (DSO) for further surveillance and necessary testing.

Meanwhile, a total of 1364 D type oxygen cylinders and 521B-type oxygen cylinders have been made available to different health institutions and health facilities of the state in the last 24 hours.

As per the latest update, a total of 318586 people have been administered COVID-19 vaccine in Manipur.