Coronavirus India Update: Tally Tops 89 Lakh With Over 38,000 New Cases
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India showed signs of gaining control over the spread of coronavirus infection as new cases in a day fell to their lowest in four months. The total tally, however, is still likely to hit the 90-lakh mark within days.
India added over 38,000 fresh cases in a matter of 24 hours, taking the total tally to over 89.1 lakh in the world’s second-worst infected country, according to the Health Ministry’s update as of 8 a.m. on Nov. 18. That includes nearly 83.3 lakh recoveries and 1.3 lakh deaths.
Authorities have reported less than 40,000 new cases for three straight days now.
The lower rate of infection kept active cases below the 5-lakh mark for over a week now. This is starkly different from just two months ago when active cases had climbed above 10 lakh in mid-September. Daily recoveries have also declined but remain higher than fresh cases.
Key Figures
- Total number of confirmed coronavirus cases: 89,12,907
- Active cases: 4,46,805
- Cured/discharged/migrated: 83,35,109
- Deaths: 1,30,993
- Number of fresh cases in 24 hours: 38,617
- One-day recoveries: 44,739
- One-day deaths: 474
Active cases now account for just over 5% of the total confirmed Covid-19 cases in India while recoveries dominate the pie with a nearly 94% share.
Global Update
Hospitalisations in New York state increased by the most since the peak of the pandemic in April. New Jersey said its intensive-care unit bed use has quadrupled over the past six weeks, and Pennsylvania required travelers to test negative or undergo quarantine. Illinois will close indoor dining, museums and casinos as part of a series of new restrictions.
Angela Merkel warned that the situation in Germany remains “very serious,” while expressing optimism that an economic recovery will gather pace once the pandemic is brought under control. Boris Johnson was advised to consider strengthening regional restrictions after England exits its second national lockdown next month. Italy reported the most virus deaths in seven months.
Globally, over 55.3 million cases of coronavirus have been reported while 1.33 million of them died due to the infection.
Vaccine Update
Pfizer Inc. Chief Executive Officer Albert Bourla said that a key safety milestone had been reached in the study of its Covid-19 vaccine, and the drugmaker is now preparing to seek an emergency-use authorisation.