NEW DELHI, Oct 17, 2020 (BSS/PTI)- India’s COVID-19 caseload went past 74
lakh, while the number of people who have recuperated from the disease
crossed 65 lakh pushing the recovery rate to 87.78 per cent, according to
data updated by the Union Health Ministry on Saturday.
The coronavirus death toll climbed to 1,12,998 with the virus claiming 837
lives in a day, while the infection tally mounted to 74,32,680 with 62,212
new cases being reported, the data updated at 8 am showed.
The active cases of coronavirus infection dropped below eight lakh for the
first time in one-and-half months, the ministry said.
For nine days in a row the active cases remained below nine lakh.
There are 7,95,087 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country
which comprises 10.70 per cent of the total caseload, while the recoveries
have surged to 65,24,595, according to the data.
The COVID-19 case fatality rate due COVID-19 was recorded at 1.52 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, 60 lakh on September 28 and crossed 70 lakh on October 11.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a cumulative
total of 9,32,54,017 samples have been tested up to October 16 with 9,99,090
samples being tested on Friday.
The 837 new fatalities include 306 from Maharashtra, 73 from Karnataka, 61
from West Bengal, 57 from Tamil Nadu, 46 from Uttar Pradesh and 40 from
Chhattisgarh.
Total 1,12,998 deaths reported so far in the country includes 41,502 from
Maharashtra, followed by 10,529 from Tamil Nadu, 10,356 from Karnataka, 6,589
from Uttar Pradesh, 6,382 from Andhra Pradesh, 5,946 from Delhi, 5,931 from
West Bengal, 3,980 from Punjab and 3,617 from Gujarat.
The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent 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.