Coronavirus India Updates: Tally Tops 19 Lakh; Fatality Rate Improves

Covid-19 cases in India continue to rise at a hastened pace amid the third phase of reopening the economy.

India added over 52,000 fresh cases in a matter of 24 hours, taking the total tally to over 19 lakh in the world’s third-worst infected country, according to the Health Ministry’s update as of 8 a.m. on Aug. 5. This includes over 39,700 deaths and 12.8 lakh patients who have recovered.

India has added over 3.5 lakh cases in just one week.

Key figures:

• Total number of confirmed coronavirus cases: 19,08,254
• Active cases: 5,86,244
• Cured/discharged/migrated: 12,82,215
• Deaths: 39,795
• Number of fresh cases in last 24 hours: 52,509
• One-day recoveries: 51,706
• One-day deaths: 857

The rise in cases can be partially attributed to the increased rate of testing. The total number of tests carried out in India for detection of Covid-19 has crossed the two-crore mark this week, according to data from the Indian Council of Medical Research. Over 6.6 lakh samples were tested on Aug. 3.

India is doing 15,119 tests per million, the Health Ministry said in a briefing on Tuesday.

It also claimed that India’s fatality rate, at 2.10%, is at its lowest since the pandemic hit the country.

Here’s the breakup of India’s mortality rate:

• 68% of the deaths caused by Covid-19 reported among male patients, while 32% deaths were reported in females.
• 50% of the deaths reported in the age group of 60 and above
• 37% of the deaths in the age group of 45-60 years
• 11% of the deaths in the age group of 26-44 years
• 1% of the deaths reported between 18-25 years
• Less than 1% below 17 years age

While the country is consistently adding over half a lakh cases everyday and active cases are about to hit the 6 lakh mark, recoveries are also on the rise. There are over two recovered patients for each patient who currently has the virus. This, however, does not necessarily count as a sign of relief or an indication that the country has hit its peak.

India has reported its highest one-day recoveries today.

Global Update

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar will visit Taiwan to discuss the international response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The trip comes as Bill Gates, whose foundation has pledged more than $250 million toward Covid-19 research, said the U.S. must take a more global approach in making vaccines available. Japan’s Olympics chief told the Financial Times the 2021 Games will proceed even if there’s no resolution to the pandemic. New Zealand was warned citizens to brace for the inevitable return of Covid-19.

Over 18.4 million cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed globally with more than 697,000 dead.

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