New Delhi: India added 3,47,254 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,85,66,027 which includes 9,692 cases of the omicron variant, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Friday.The active cases have increased to 20,18,825, the highest in 235 days, while the death toll has climbed to 4,88,396 with 703 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated.“There has been a 4.36% increase in omicron cases since Thursday,” the ministry said.Also watch: Watch | Shutting Schools a Mistake, Educating Kids a High Priority: Ashish Jha on Omicron“The active cases comprise 5.23% of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has decreased to 93.50%,” the ministry said.An increase of 94,774 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.“The daily positivity rate was recorded at 17.94% while the weekly positivity rate was recorded at 16.56%,” according to the health ministry.The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 3,60,58,806, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.27%.The cumulative doses administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive has exceeded 160.43 crores.The 703 new fatalities include 341 from Kerala and 43 from Delhi.A total of 4,88,3961 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 1,41,971 from Maharashtra, 51,501 from Kerala, 38,515 from Karnataka, 37,112 from Tamil Nadu, 25,503 from Delhi, 23,000 from Uttar Pradesh and 20,230 from West Bengal.The ministry stressed that more than 70% of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.“Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research,” the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.(PTI)