2,61,500 CASES, 1,501 DEATHS IN SINGLE DAY

A record single-day rise of 2,61,500 coronavirus infections has taken India’s total tally of Covid-19 cases to 1,47,88,109, while active cases have surpassed the 18-lakh mark, according to Union Health Ministry data on Sunday. The death toll reached 1,77,150 with a record 1,501 fatalities. Registering a steady increase for the 39th day in a row, the active cases stand at 18,01,316, comprising 12.18% of the total infections, while the national Covid-19 recovery rate has dropped to 86.62%, it said.

The number of recoveries surged to 1,28,09,643, while the case fatality rate has further dropped to 1.20%. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, 26,65,38,416 samples have been

DELHI SEES 25,462 CASES Delhi

on Sunday recorded the biggest jump in its daily tally with 25,462 fresh cases, while the positivity rate shot up to 29.74% — meaning almost every third sample being tested in the city is turning out to be positive. CM Kejriwal said less than 100 ICU beds are available in hospitals in the capital. Authorities reported 161 deaths due to the disease in 24 hours. As the situation turned serious every passing hour, Kejriwal shot off letters to PM Modi and Piyush Goyal urging them to ramp up bed capacity in central hospitals and ensure “uninterrupted” supply of medical oxygen.

tested up to April 17 with 15,66,394 samples being tested on Saturday.

The 1,501 new fatalities include 419 from Maharashtra, 167 from Delhi, 158 from Chhattisgarh, 120 from UP, 97 from Gujarat, 80 from Karnataka, 66 from MP, 62 from Punjab and 39 from Tamil Nadu. The fresh fatalities include 37 each from Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, 34 each from Bihar and West Bengal, 32 from Haryana, 30 from Jharkhand, 27 from Kerala, 15 each from Telangana and Andhra and 12 from Himachal.

The ministry said total 1,77,150 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 59,970 from Maharashtra, 13,270 from Karnataka, 13,071 from Tamil Nadu, 11,960 from Delhi, 10,540 from West Bengal, 9,703 from UP, 7,834 from Punjab and 7,388 from Andhra. The ministry stressed over 70% deaths occurred due to co-morbidities.