COVID-19: India's tally crosses 19-lakh mark, 46,211 new cases

India’s COVID-19 tally crossed the 19-lakh mark on Tuesday (August 4) just a day after it crossed 18 lakh, with 46,211 people testing positive for the disease in the last 24 hours.

This took the total number of confirmed infection cases to 19,01,542.

It can be noted that India took 158 days to reach the first five lakh cases-mark, but just 20 days to record the next five lakh cases.

The death toll due to COVID-19 climbed to 39,792 with 821 fresh fatalities being reported in 24 hours, the data updated at 9.14 pm showed.

A total of 12,78,393 people have recovered, while there are 5,82,908 active cases of coronavirus infection currently in the country.

A cumulative total of 2,08,64,750 samples have been tested up to August 2 with 6,61,892 samples being tested on Monday (August 3), the highest done in a day so far, scientist and media coordinator at ICMR, Dr Lokesh Sharma, said.

“A total of 1,05,32,074 tests for detection of coronavirus infection have been performed, with per day average of 3,39,744 tests, in July, the highest number of tests conducted in a month so far,” Sharma said.

82% of total COVID-19 cases from 10 states/UTs, says health ministry

The coronavirus infection has spread to new areas in the country, but 82 per cent of the total cases are still limited to 10 states and Union Territories, the health ministry said on Tuesday.

Addressing a press briefing, Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan said 50 districts account for 66 per cent of the total caseload and the COVID-19 case fatality rate has progressively declined to 2.10 per cent, the lowest since the first lockdown was imposed on March 25.

“Coronavirus infection has spread to newer areas but 82 per cent of the total cases are still limited to 10 states and UTs in the country, whereas 50 districts today account for 66 per cent of the COVID-19 caseload in the country,” he said.

Giving a break-up of the mortality rate according to gender, the official said about 68 per cent of COVID-19 deaths were reported among male patients and 32 per cent among female patients in India.

In terms of age, he said 50 per cent of such deaths took place in the age group of 60 years and above. “About 37 per cent of COVID-19 deaths in India took place in the age group of 45 to 60 years, while 11 per cent of deaths were recorded in the age group of 26 to 44 years,” he told reporters.

India’s COVID-19 fatality rate has progressively declined to 2.10 per cent, the lowest since the first lockdown, Bhushan said.

On the other hand, the health ministry also said it would be “thoroughly unjustified” to claim that deaths due COVID-19 are being under-reported in the country.

Responding to a question, Bhushan said media reports claiming under-reporting of COVID-19 deaths in the country is “mere conjecture”.

He said that in the initial phase of the pandemic, the ministry had issued clear-cut guidelines in consultation with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and keeping in view the WHO guidelines on how to report deaths.

From the states

Maharashtra

The COVID-19 count in Maharashtra mounted to 4,57,956 on Tuesday with the addition of 7,760 new cases, which is the lowest single-day rise since July 30.

Meanwhile, 300 people died in 24 hours, including 56 in Mumbai. The cumulative death toll in the state now stands at 16,142.

Significantly, as many as 12,326 patients were discharged in the day, which is one of the highest such numbers in a day, raising the count of recovered cases to 2,99,356, a health official said.

The number of active cases in the state, which has so far conducted 23,52,047 tests, now stands at 1,42,151.

Tamil Nadu

After Maharashtra, which has the highest number of COVID-19 cases, Tamil Nadu stood second with a total of 2,68,285 cases as of Tuesday.

At least 5,063 cases were recorded over the past 24 hours, while 6,501 people were discharged after recovery during the same period. This took the total number of recuperated people in the state to 2,08,784.

With 108 fatalities being reported from Tamil Nadu in a day, the total toll went up to 4,349.

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh registered 9,747 cases of the virus infection on Tuesday, taking the tally to 1,76,333. There are currently 79,104 active cases in the state.

Meanwhile, 6,953 people have recovered in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of recoveries to 95,625, while 67 people died due to the disease.

The total death toll shot up to 1,604.

Karnataka

The COVID-19 count in Karnataka mounted to 1,45,830 on Tuesday with the addition of 6,259 new cases.

The cumulative death toll in the state now stands at 2,704. Significantly, as many as 6,772 patients were discharged in the day, raising the count of recovered cases to 69,272.

The number of active cases in the state now stands at 73,845.

Furthermore, former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said he has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been admitted to the hospital on the advice of doctors.

The 71-year-old leader of opposition in the state Assembly has requested all those who have come into contact with him to quarantine themselves. “I have been tested positive for #Covid19 & also been admitted to the hospital on the advice of doctors as a precaution. I request all those who had come in contact with me to check out for symptoms & to quarantine themselves,” Siddaramaiah tweeted.