India records over 18,000 new COVID-19 cases for third consecutive day, tally rises to 1,12,29,398

New Delhi: New cases of coronavirus infection in India were recorded above 18,000 for the third consecutive day taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 1,12,29,398, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday. The active cases also registered an increase for the sixth consecutive day and the COVID-19 active caseload increased to 1,88,747 which now comprises 1.68 percent of the total infections. The recovery rate has dropped further to 96.91 percent, the data showed. A total of 18,599 new infections were registered in a day, while the toll increased to 1,57,853 with 97 daily new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed. On January 29,18,855 new infections were recorded in a span of 24 hours. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,08,82,798 which translates to a national COVID-19 recovery rate of 96.91 percent, while the case fatality rate stands at 1.41 percent. India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on 7 August, 30 lakh on  23 August, 40 lakh on  5 September and 50 lakh on 16 September.It went past 60 lakh on 28 September, 70 lakh on 11 October, crossed 80 lakh on 29 October, 90 lakh on 20 November and surpassed the one-crore mark on 19 December. According to the ICMR, 22,19,68,271 samples have been tested up to 7 March with 5,37,764 samples being tested on Sunday. The 97 new fatalities include 38 from Maharashtra,17 from Punjab and 13 from Kerala. A total of 1,57,853 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 52,478 from Maharashtra followed by 12,518 from Tamil Nadu,12,362 from Karnataka,10,921 from Delhi, 10,278 from West Bengal,8,737 from Uttar Pradesh, and 7,174 from Andhra Pradesh. 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.