India records 63,371 COVID-19 cases, 895 deaths in a day; tally crosses 73-lakh mark
16-October-2020

India on Friday recorded as many as 63,371 new coronavirus cases and 895 deaths in the last 24 hours, the lowest in months, according to Union health ministry data. Country's COVID-19 tally has crossed 73 lakh-mark death toll breached 1-lakh mark. The total cases of coronavirus infections stand at 73,70,469 while the death toll climbs to 1,12,161. Of these 8,04,528 are active cases while 63,83,441 people have been recovered, according to the health ministry. For eight days in a row, the active cases of COVID-19 remained below 9 lakh.

The COVID-19 case fatality rate due COVID-19 was recorded at 1.52 per cent.

"India continues to have one of the lowest COVID-19 deaths per million population globally, currently pegged at 80," the ministry said.

India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23 and 40 lakh on September 5. It went past 50 lakh on September 16, 60 lakh on September 28 and crossed 70 lakh on October 11.

According to the ICMR, a cumulative total of 9,22,54,927 samples have been tested up to October 15, with 10,28,622 samples being tested on Thursday.

Meanwhile, PM Modi on Thursday called for scaling up of Covid-19 testing and sero surveys. He also said that the facility to get tested regularly and speedily at a low cost must be available to all at the earliest. The Prime Minister also reiterated the country's resolve to provide cost-effective, easily available, scalable solutions for Covid-19 testing, vaccination and medication to all.

India comes in second place in terms of cases at 7,307,097, while the country's death toll soared to 111,266. The US is the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 7,977,097 and 217,754, respectively, according to the CSSE.