India reports 24,010 new COVID-19 cases in a day, total count rises to 99.56 lakh; toll now at 1.4 lakh

New Delhi: India’s COVID-19 caseload rose to 99.56 lakh with 24,010 new infections being reported in a day, while the number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 94.89 lakh, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday. The total coronavirus cases mounted to99,56,557 and the toll rose to 1,44,451 with 355 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 94,89,740 pushing the national recovery rate to 95.31 percent, while the COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.45 percent. The COVID-19 active caseload remained below 4 lakh for the eleventh consecutive day. There are 3,22,366 active coronavirus infections in the country which comprises 3.24 percent of the total caseload, the data stated. India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on 7 August, 30 lakh on 23 August, and 40 lakh on 5 September. It went past 50 lakh on 16 September, 60 lakh on 28 September, 70 lakh on 11 October, crossed 80 lakh on 29 October, and surpassed 90 lakh on 20 November. According to the ICMR, 15,78,05,240 samples have been tested up to 16 December with 11,58,960 samples being tested on Wednesday. The 355 new fatalities include 95 from Maharashtra, 46 from West Bengal, 32 from Delhi, and 27 from Kerala. A total of 1,44,451 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 48,434 from Maharashtra followed by 11,971 from Karnataka, 11,931 from Tamil Nadu, 10,147 from Delhi,9,191 from West Bengal, 8,118 from Uttar Pradesh, 7,067 from Andhra Pradesh, and 5,135 from Punjab. The health ministry stressed that more than 70 percent 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.