India reports 45,576 new COVID-19 infections, 585 deaths in a day; tally now at 89.58 lakh

New Delhi: India’s COVID-19 caseload climbed to 89.58 lakh with fresh 45,576 infections, while the number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to over 83.83 lakh, said the health ministry on Thursday. The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases mounted to 89,58,483, with 45,576 infections being reported in a day while the toll climbed to 1,31,578 with 585 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed. The number of active cases remained below five lakh for the ninth consecutive day. There are 4,43,303 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which accounts for 4.95 percent of the total caseload, the data stated. With 83,83,602 patients being cured, the national recovery rate rose to 93.58 percent while the COVID-19 case fatality rate stood at 1.47 percent. 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 and crossed 80 lakh on 29 October. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a cumulative total of 12,85,08,389 samples have been tested up to 18 November, of which 10,28,203 samples were tested on Wednesday alone. The 585 new fatalities include 131 from Delhi, 100 from Maharashtra, 54 from West Bengal, 31 from Punjab, 30 from Haryana, 29 from Uttar Pradesh, 28 from Kerala, 23 from Chhattisgarh and 21 from Karnataka. Total 1,31,578 deaths reported so far in the country include 46,202 from Maharashtra, 11,578 from Karnataka, 11,531 from Tamil Nadu, 7,943 from Delhi, 7,820 from West Bengal, 7,441 from Uttar Pradesh, 6,899 from Andhra Pradesh, 4,541 from Punjab and 3,823 from Gujarat. 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.