Coronavirus India Updates: Active Cases Dip Below 8 Lakhs Even As Total Caseload Crosses 74-Lakh-Mark

India’s confirmed Covid-19 cases crossed the 74-lakh-mark even as the outbreak showed signs of slowing over the last couple of weeks.

The country added over 62,212 fresh cases in the last 24 hours, according to the Health Ministry’s update as of 8 a.m.

The slower pace of daily infections and an improved recovery rate has pushed active cases in India below the 8 lakh mark for the first time since Sept. 2. India's active caseload had crossed 10 lakhs in mid-September.

The number of recovered patients reached 65.24 lakh, while the death toll crossed 1.12 lakh.

Key figures:

• Total number of confirmed coronavirus cases: 74,32,680

• Active cases: 7,95,087

• Cured/discharged/migrated: 65,24,595

• Deaths: 1,12,998

• Fresh cases in 24 hours: 62,212

• One-day recoveries: 70,816

• One-day deaths: 837

New cases remained below the 70,000-mark for six straight days.

Meanwhile, the central government has initiated the fifth phase of reopening the economy.

Cinemas in several parts of the country opened after seven months on Thursday with a few film enthusiasts venturing warily into movie watching in a Covid-19 contact-less era of alternate seating, 50% capacity and packaged snacks.

Global Update

Globally, cases exceeded 3.9 crore leaving almost 1.1 million dead as of Saturday morning.

The U.S. reported the most daily infections in two months as temperatures begin to dip across the country. Total cases in the country topped 80 lakh. Singapore had fewer than 100 active coronavirus cases on Friday, the first time it’s dropped below that level in seven months.

Germany to Italy to Portugal reported record cases as the pandemic’s accelerating resurgence across Europe forced fresh lockdowns. Londoners will be banned from mixing with other households indoors, while residents of Paris and eight other major French cities will be confined to their homes between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. for four weeks.

Track the latest updates on the Covid-19 pandemic in India, here.