More than one lakh people have died of COVID-19 in India, the world’s second worst-hit country by the coronavirus pandemic after US – as it recorded 1,069 deaths and total caseload crossed 64.7 lakh with 79,476 new cases, data released by the Health Ministry this morning showed. India now has 9,44,996 active COVID-19 cases and more than 54 lakh recoveries with 75,628 more people having fought off the disease in the last 24 hours, Health Ministry data shows.
At least 77 per cent of the active coronavirus cases have been reported from 10 states and union territories, contributing 15 per cent to the caseload.
India added 23 lakh fresh coronavirus cases or 40 per cent of the country’s current COVID-19 tally in the month of September alone, government data shows.
September also saw one-third of the Covid-related deaths reported since the pandemic began. As per data, the country has been reporting more than 1,000 deaths a day for the past month, with the exception of September 28.
India’s overall Covid-related deaths stand at 1,00,842 with a fatality rate of 1.5 per cent. It is in the third spot in terms of fatalities globally after the US and Brazil, according to the Johns Hopkins University, which has been compiling COVID-19 data from all over the world.
States of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal reported the highest deaths in the last 24 hours accounting for 67 per cent of all deaths.
Maharashtra – one of the worst-hit state with 14 lakh cases — accounted for 20 per cent of the new daily cases, followed by Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. These states together accounted for 54.5 per cent of all new cases.
With 54,27,706 Covid recoveries, the country is in the number one position followed by Brazil and the US, according to the JHU. The country has a recovery rate of 83.8 per cent, government data shows.
As cases surge, the Health Ministry has maintained that it is a result of increased testing as part of the government’s focus on fast tracking for early treatment. Some 11.3 lakh teste were done in the last 24 hours with overall 7.78 crore tests having been conducted till now.
Globally, more than 3.4 crore people have been infected by the novel coronavirus, which broke out in China’s Wuhan less than a year ago. At least 10 lakh people have lost their lives to COVID-19.
“Wear a mask, keep social distance, and wash your hands,” Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said after he tested negative for COVID-19, three days after his debate with Donald Trump, who has contracted the illness. Mr Trump is known to never wear a face mask as a “choice”.
As some people discourage the use of face mask claiming it may be a health risk, researchers from American Thoracic Society have said face masks are unlikely to cause over-exposure to carbon dioxide, even in patients with lung disease.
