India on Saturday recorded 62,258 new coronavirus cases pushing the nationwide Covid-19 tally to 1,19,08,910, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Saturday.
Registering a steady increase for the 17th day in a row, the active cases across the country have risen to 4,52,647 comprising 3.80 per cent of the total infections, while the recovery rate has further dropped to 94.85 per cent, the data updated at 8 am showed.
The 62,258 new cases were reported in a span of 24 hours, the highest since October 16, 2020, while the death toll increased to 1,61,240 with 291 daily new fatalities, the highest in around three months, the data stated.
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As many as 63,371 new infections were recorded in a span of 24 hours on October 16.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,12,95,023, while the case fatality rate has further dropped to 1.35 per cent, the data stated.
India's Covid-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.
It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.
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According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, 23,97,69,553 samples have been tested up to March 26 with 11,64,915 samples being tested on Friday.
The 291 new fatalities include 112 from Maharashtra, 59 Punjab, 22 from Chhattisgarh, 14 from Kerala and 13 from Karnataka.
A total of 1,61,240 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 53,907 from Maharashtra, 12,650 from Tamil Nadu, 12,484 from Karnataka, 10,987 from Delhi, 10,320 from West Bengal, 8,779 from Uttar Pradesh and 7,203 from Andhra Pradesh and 6,576 from Punjab.
The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent 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.
(With inputs from PTI)
