With 46,951 new COVID-19 cases, India records highest single-day surge since mid-November

New Delhi: India added 90,797 cases of coronavirus in two days with 46,951 new infections being recorded in a span of 24 hours, the highest so far this year, taking the nationwide COVID-19 tally to 1,16,46,081, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Monday Registering an increase for the 12th day in a row, the total active caseload has increased to3,34,646, which now comprises 2.87 percent of the total infections. The recovery rate has further dropped to 95.75 percent, the data stated. The daily rise in infections was the highest recorded in 130 days, while the toll increased to 1,59,967 with 212 daily new fatalities, the highest in 72 days, the data updated at 8 am showed. As many as 47,905 new infections were recorded in a span of 24 hours on 12 November. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,11,51,468and the case fatality rate has further dropped to 1.37 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, 23,44,45,774 samples have been tested up to 21 March, with 8,80,655 samples being tested on Sunday. The 212 new fatalities include 99 from Maharashtra, 44 from Punjab, 13 from Kerala, and 10 from Chhattisgarh. A total of 1,59,967 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 53,399 from Maharashtra, 12,599 from Tamil Nadu, 12,434 from Karnataka, 10,956 from Delhi, 10,306 from West Bengal, 8,759 from Uttar Pradesh, and 7,189 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.