COVID caseload in India breaches 66-lakh mark

NEW DELHI: India’’s COVID-19 caseload went past 66 lakh, while the number of people who have recuperated from the disease crossed 55 lakh, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. The recovery rate stands at 84.13 per cent.

The total coronavirus cases mounted to 66,05,755 with more than 75,000 people testing positive for the infection in a day, while the death toll climbed to 1,02,324 with the virus claiming over 1,000 lives in a span of 24 hours, the latest data showed. The total recoveries have surged to 55,62,604, while there are over 10 lakh active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which comprises 14.32 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated. The COVID-19 case fatality rate has further dropped to 1.55 per cent.

India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23 and 40 lakh on September 5. It went past 50 lakh on September 16 and crossed 60 lakh on September 28. According to the ICMR, a cumulative total of 7,89,92,534 samples have been tested up to October 3 with 11,42,131 samples being tested on Saturday.

The new fatalities include those from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and New Delhi. The Health Ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to co-morbidities.