Surge in fresh Covid-19 cases

N ew Delhi, March 26: The counry saw as many as 59,118 new Coronavirus infections in a single day, taking the nationwide Covid-19 tally to 1...

New Delhi, March 26: The counry saw as many as 59,118 new Coronavirus infections in a single day, taking the nationwide Covid-19 tally to 1,18,46,652, according to the Union Health Ministry on Friday. The active caseload breached the 4 lakh-mark again after around three-and-half months

Registering an increase for the 16th day in row, active cases have increased to 4,21,066 comprising 3.55 % of the total infections, while the recovery rate has further dropped to 95.09 %.

The 59,118 new infections reported in a span of 24 hours were the highest since October 18 last year. The death toll increased to 1,60,949 with 257 daily new fatalities.

India's Covid-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16

It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 23,86,04,638 samples have been tested up to March 25 with 11,00,756 samples being tested on Thursday

The 257 new fatalities include 111 from Maharashtra, 43 from Punjab, 15 from Chhattisgarh, 12 from Kerala, 11 from Tamil Nadu and 10 from Karnataka

A total of 1,60,949 deaths have been reported so far including 53,795 from Maharashtra, 12,641 from Tamil Nadu, 12,471 from Karnataka, 10,978 from Delhi, 10,316 from West Bengal, 8,773 from Uttar Pradesh and 7,201 from Andhra Pradesh and 6,517 from Punjab

The health 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.(Agencies)