With 14,256 fresh cases, India's COVID-19 tally climbs to 1,06,39,684

With 14,256 fresh cases, India's COVID-19 tally climbed to 1,06,39,684 on Saturday, while 1,03,00,838 patients have recuperated so far, pushing the national recovery rate to 96.81 per cent, according to the health ministry.

IMAGE: A healthcare worker wearing personal protective equipment collects a swab sample from an artist during a media preview of tableaux participating in the Republic Day parade amidst the spread of the coronavirus in New Delhi. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters

There are 1,85,662 active cases of the coronavirus infection in the country currently, which accounts for only 1.78 per cent of the total caseload, according to data released by the ministry.

The COVID-19 caseload has mounted to 1,06,39,684 and the death toll due to the disease has climbed to 1,53,184, with the novel coronavirus claiming 152 more lives in the country in a span of 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed.

The COVID-19 case fatality rate stood at 1.44 per cent.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, a total of 19,09,85,119 samples have so far been tested for the viral disease in the country, including 8,37,095 on Friday.

IMAGE: Left to right, V C Sehgal, Chairman, Motherson Group, Satyakam Arya, CEO and MD, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles and L V Sehgal, Vice Chairman, Motherson Group during the launch of special freezer truck for Covid vaccine transportation in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo

India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7 last year, the 30-lakh mark on August 23 and the 40-lakh mark on September 5.

It went past 50 lakh on September 16 last year, 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and one crore on December 19.

IMAGE: A health worker receives a COVID-19 vaccine shot at G B Pant hospital in Srinagar. Photograph: ANI Photo

The 152 COVID-19 fatalities reported in the last 24 hours include 50 from Maharashtra, 19 from Kerala, eight each from West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and seven each from Delhi and Chhattisgarh.

Maharashtra has so far reported the highest number of 50,684 deaths caused by the viral disease in the country, followed by Tamil Nadu (12,307), Karnataka (12,190), Delhi (10,789), West Bengal (10,097), Uttar Pradesh (8,605), Andhra Pradesh (7,146), Punjab (5,543) and Gujarat (4,374).

IMAGE: ASHA workers with their identity cards wait in a queue to get vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine at Kaimara in Chikmagalur. Photograph: PTI Photo

The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the COVID-19 deaths in the country occurred due to comorbidities.

"Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research," the ministry said on its website, adding that a state-wise distribution of the figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.

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