COVID-19: Official Records Show Fewer Than 60,000 Cases For the First Time in 81 Days

New Delhi: India recorded fewer than 60,000 new coronavirus infections 81 days after taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 2,98,81,965 – almost three crore – while active cases further reduced to 7,29,243, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

A total of 58,419 fresh infections were reported in a day.

The death toll climbed to 3,86,713 with 1,576 fresh fatalities, the lowest in 63 days.

The active cases further declined to 7,29,243 comprising 2.44% of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate improved to 96.27%, the data updated at 8am today showed

A net decline of 30,776 cases has been recorded in the COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

Also read: India Should Brace for Third COVID-19 Wave by October, Say Health Experts

As many as 18,11,446 tests were conducted on Saturday, taking the total cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of COVID-19 in the country to 39,10,19,083.

The daily positivity rate was recorded at 3.22%. It has been less than 5% for 13 consecutive days, the ministry said, adding that the weekly positivity rate has declined to 3.43%.

Recoveries have continued to outnumber daily new cases for the 38th consecutive day. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 2,87,66,009, while the case fatality rate stands at 1.29%, the data stated.

Cumulatively, 27,66,93,572 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far.

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. India crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4.

The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.