India reports 68,020 new COVID-19 cases in 24 hrs, tally crosses 1.20 crore

New Delhi: India saw 68,020 new coronavirus cases in a span of 24 hours, the highest single-day rise so far this year, taking the country's COVID-19 tally to above 1.20 crore, according to Union health ministry data updated on Monday.

Registering a steady increase for the 19th day in a row, the active cases have increased to 5,21,808, which comprise 4.33 percent of the total infections, while the recovery rate has further dropped to 94.32 percent, the data stated.

A total of 68,020 new cases were reported in a day, the highest recorded since 11 October last year, taking the country's tally of cases to 1,20,39,644, while the toll increased to 1,61,843 with 291 fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.

As many as 74,383 new cases were recorded in a span of 24 hours on 11 October. The active caseload was at its lowest at 1,35,926 on 12 February comprising 1.25 percent of the total infections.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,13,55,993, while the case fatality rate has further has dropped to 1.34 percent, the data stated.

India's COVID-19 tally had crossed 20 lakh mark on 7 August last year, 30 lakh on 23 August, 40 lakh on 5 September and 50 lakh on 16 September.

It went past 60 lakh on 28  September, 70 lakh on 11 October, crossed 80 lakh on 29 October, 90 lakh on 20 November and surpassed the one-crore mark on 19 December last year.

According to the Indian Council for Medical Research, 24,18,64,161 samples have been tested up to 28 March with 9,13,319 samples being tested on Saturday.

The 291 new fatalities include 108 from Maharashtra, 69 from Punjab, 15 from Chhattisgarh, 12 each from Kerala and Karnataka, and 11 each from Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

A total of 1,61,843 deaths have been reported so far in the country, including 54,181 from Maharashtra, 12,670 from Tamil Nadu, 12,504 from Karnataka, 11,006 from Delhi, 10,324 from West Bengal, 8,786 from Uttar Pradesh, 7,205 from Andhra Pradesh and 6,690 from Punjab.

The health ministry stressed that more than 70 percent 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.