India's COVID-19 caseload raced past 46 lakh with a record 97,570 infections being reported in a day, while 36,24,196 people have recuperated so far taking the national recovery rate to 77.77 per cent on Saturday, according to Union health ministry data.

IMAGE: A healthcare worker wearing personal protective equipment takes swab from a woman for a rapid antigen test at a bus terminal, amidst the coronavirus disease outbreak, in Ahmedabad. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

The total number of coronavirus cases mounted to 46,59,984, while the death toll climbed to 77,472 with 1,201 people succumbing to the infection in a span of 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed.

The COVID-19 case fatality rate due to the coronavirus infection has further dropped to 1.66 per cent.

There are 9,58,316 active cases of COVID-19 in the country which comprises 20.56 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.

IMAGE: Commuters wearing protective masks travel in a passenger bus, amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, in Ahmedabad. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23 and it went past 40 lakh on September 5.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, a cumulative total of 5,40,97,975 samples have been tested up to September 10 with 11,63,542 samples being tested on Friday.

IMAGE: A worker sprays disinfectant in the premises of the NSCBI Airport during the bi-weekly lockdown in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, in Kolkata. Photograph: Ashok Bhaumik/PTI Photo

India records highest 1-day spike of 97\,570 cases

India's Covid tally passes 46 lakh with 1-day jump of 97,570 cases