With a spike of 97,894 fresh cases and 1,132 deaths in the last 24 hours, the total number of active Covid-19 cases in India crossed the 10-lakh mark on Thursday. The total case tally in the country now stands at 51,18,254 including 10,09,976 active cases, 40,25,080 recoveries and 83,198 deaths.
Meanwhile, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the apex body at the forefront of formulating the Covid-19 testing strategy in India, announced that total testing of Covid samples in the country has crossed six- crore mark. With average testing of more than 10 lakh per day in the last 20 days, India has tested 6,05,65,728 samples across the country. According to ICMR, the country conducted the last two crore sample testing in only 20 days.
“This has been enabled by rapidly increasing testing infrastructure and capacity across the country, the total number of diagnostic labs has reached 1,751. Of which dedicated government laboratories are 1059 and private laboratories number stands at 692,” ICMR said in a release.
ICMR has regularly been assessing the situation and responding by revising the testing strategy. “In its latest advisory on Covid-19 testing strategy ‘Testing on Demand’ for individuals has been allowed. The State/ UT governments have been allowed to simplify the modalities to facilitate testing on-demand,” ICMR said.
The national Covid-19 recovery rate stands at 78.64 percent. These high levels of recovery have resulted in a 100 percent increase in the number of recovered cases in the past 30 days.
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Thursday said he is hopeful that by the early next year, the vaccine will be available in India and added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has handled Covid-19 meticulously. “History will remember Prime Minister Narendra Modi for meticulously monitoring the entire situation himself. India is making efforts just like other countries. Under Prime Minister’s guidance, an expert group is looking at it and we have advanced planning in place. We are hopeful that by the start of next year, the vaccine will be available in India,” he said in the Rajya Sabha.
Responding to Congress MP Anand Sharma’s query in the Rajya Sabha, Vardhan said that six scientific agencies gave scientific data on the basis of which it was stated between 14 lakh and 29 lakh cases were prevented by the lockdown.
Maharashtra remains the worst affected state having witnessed 11,45,840 coronavirus cases so far, including 8,12,354 recoveries, 3,01,752 active cases, and 31,351 deaths. 24,619 more Covid-19 cases and 398 deaths were reported in the state in the last 24 hours.
Delhi reported 4,432 new cases in the last 24 hours taking the total number of coronavirus cases in the national capital to 2,34,701. The death toll due to the virus stands at 4,877 after 38 deaths in the last 24 hours. As many as 3,587 Covid-19 patients have recovered, taking the number of such patients to 1,98,103. There are 31,721 active cases in the national capital.
Haryana registered 2,694 news Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours taking its tally to 1,01,316. Mean- while Uttar Pradesh recorded 6476 fresh cases and 86 deaths in the last 24 hours. With 6,476 recoveries, total cases in the state is now at 3,30,265, including 4,690 active cases, 2,58,573 recoveries and 4,690 deaths.
Andhra Pradesh reported 8,702 new Covid-19 cases and 72 deaths in the last 24 hours. Total cases in the state rose to 6,01,462, including 5,08,088 recovered and 5,177 de- ceased. Active cases stand at 88,197. Karnataka reported 9,366 new Covid-19 cases, 7,268 discharges and 93 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 4,94,356 including 1,03,631 active cases, 3,83,077 discharges, and 7,629 deaths, As many as 4,531 new COVID-19 cases and 10 deaths were reported in Kerala in the last 24 hours. The number of active cases now at 34,314.
A total of 1,192 new Covid-19 cases reported in Uttarakhand in the last 24 hours. The total number of cases in the state is now 37,139 including 24,810 recoveries, 11,714 active cases, and 460 deaths. Punjab reported 2,896 new Covid cases and 57 deaths in the last 24 hours, pushing the total number of cases to 90,032 including 65,818 recoveries, 21,568 active cases, and 2,646 deaths.
As many as 1,467 new Covid-19 cases reported in Jammu and Kashmir in the last 24 hours — 785 from Jam- mu division and 682 from Kashmir division. The total number of cases now at 59,711 including 20,239 active cases, 38,521 recoveries, and 951 deaths. Manipur reported 110 new Covid-19 cases, taking the total to 8,430, including 1,840 active cases. A total of 51 deaths were reported in the state.
