Coronavirus: India’s COVID-19 caseload breaches 18.5-lakh mark
India recorded 52,050 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday (August 3), taking the total number of infections to 18,55,745
FollowNew Delhi: India's COVID-19 tally increased to 18,55,745 with 52,050 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in a day, while the recoveries crossed the 12-lakh mark on Tuesday, according to the Union health ministry data.
The death toll due to COVID-19 climbed to 38,938 with 803 fresh fatalities being reported in 24-hours, the data updated at 8 am showed.
A total of 12,30,509 people have recovered, while there are 5,86,298 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country presently.
The recovery rate among COVID-19 patients has risen to 66.31%, while the fatality rate has further dropped to 2.10%, the data stated.
The total number of confirmed cases also includes foreigners.
This is the sixth consecutive day that COVID-19 cases have increased by more than 50,000.
The number of novel coronavirus cases in Maharashtra has crossed 4.5 lakh, over one-fourth of which is reported from Mumbai. The state has 4,50,196 infections and 15,842 deaths; at least 1,47,018 people are being treated for the disease. Mumbai has 1,17,406 cases and 6,493 deaths.
Meanwhile, For the first time since the pandemic outbreak, the state’s death toll went past the 100-mark on a single day, taking the cumulative toll to 4,241 on Monday. Among the deceased, eight had no comorbidities.
The state also recorded 5,609 fresh cases, taking the overall tally to 2,63,222. This is the fifth consecutive day that less than 6,000 cases have been recorded.
According to the ICMR, a cumulative total of 2,08,64,750 samples have been tested up to August 2 with 6,61,892 samples being tested on Monday, the highest done in a day so far, Scientist and media coordinator at ICMR, Dr Lokesh Sharma, said.
"A total of 1,05,32,074 tests for detection of coronavirus infection have been performed with a per day average of 3,39,744 tests in July, the highest number of tests conducted in a month so far," Sharma said.
There are 917 labs in the government sector and 439 labs in the private sector for conducting COVID-19 tests.
Meanwhile, India’s top drug regulator has approved the application of Serum Institute of India (SII) to conduct late-stage human trials in the country for the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine candidate.
