File Image (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool, File)
The total number of COVID-19 positive cases in India crossed the grim 15-lakh mark on July 28.
The total tally now stands at 15,16,129 according to worldometer, while the death toll is 33,866.
The maximum number of cases have been reported from Maharashtra (3,83,723), followed by Tamil Nadu (2,20,716), Delhi (1,31,219), Andhra Pradesh (1,02,349) and Karnataka (1,01,465), as per data available on the health ministry's website.
However, India's COVID-19 fatality rate has progressively declined to 2.25 percent from 3.33 per cent on June 18 , while the recovery rate has gradually increased from around 53 per cent in mid-June to more than 64 percent now, the health ministry said.
With 35,176 patients discharged in a 24-hour span, the total recoveries surged to 9,52,743 and exceeded the active coronavirus cases by 4,55,755, it stated further. For the fifth day in a row, India has seen more than 30,000 recoveries per day.
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Pursuant to "test, track, treat" strategy, India has created and maintained a new high of testing more than five lakh samples for COVID-19 in a single day over two consecutive days, the ministry said.
On July 26, India tested a total of 5,15,000 samples and on July 27, a total of 5,28,082 samples were tested taking the cumulative number of samples tested so far to 1,73,34,885.
While the cumulative testing as on date has crossed 1.73 crore, the Tests Per Million has further improved to 12,562.
The testing lab network in the country is continuously being strengthened with 1,310 labs in the country – 905 labs in the government sector and 405 private labs, the ministry said.