India records over 300 single-day COVID-19 deaths for first time this year, reports 62,714 new cases

New Delhi: India saw 62,714 new coronavirus infections in a day, the highest single-day rise so far this year, taking the nationwide COVID-19 tally to 1,19,71,624, while the daily deaths crossed the 300-mark for the first time in 2021, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. Registering a steady increase for the 18th day in row, active cases have increased to 4,86,310 and comprise 4.06 percent of the total infections. The recovery rate has further dropped to 94.58 percent, the data stated. The 62,714 new cases were reported in a span of 24 hours, the highest since 16 October, 2020, while the toll increased to 1,61,552 with 312 daily new fatalities, the highest in around three months, the data updated at 8 am showed. The daily death toll of 312 is the highest since 25 December, 2020 when 336 new deaths were reported. As many as 63,371 new infections were recorded in a span of 24 hours on 16 October. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,13,23,762, while the case fatality rate stood at 1.35 percent, the data stated. 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, 24,09,50,842 samples have been tested up to 27 March with 11,81,289 samples being tested on Saturday. The 312 new fatalities include 166 from Maharashtra, 45 from Punjab, 14 from Kerala, 13 from Chhattisgarh, and 10 from Delhi. A total of 1,61,552 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 54073 from Maharashtra, 12659 from Tamil Nadu, 12492 from Karnataka, 10997 from Delhi, 10322 from West Bengal, 8783 from Uttar Pradesh and 7203 from Andhra Pradesh and 6621 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.