Coronavirus India Updates: Active Cases Drop Below 7 Lakh As Fresh Infections Slow
Track the latest updates on the Covid-19 pandemic in India, here.
Active cases of Covid-19 infection in India continued to fall even amid concerns the festive season could lead to new outbreaks.
Authorities reported over 54,000 fresh cases in the last 24 hours taking the total tally in the world’s second-most populous nation to 77.6 lakh, according to the Health Ministry’s update at 8 a.m. on Oct. 23.
However, the slower pace of daily infections and an improved recovery rate pushed active cases in India below the 7-lakh-mark for the first time since August 22. India's active caseload had crossed 10 lakh in mid-September.
Key figures:
- Total number of confirmed cases: 77,61,312
- Active cases: 6,95,509
- Cured/discharged/migrated: 69,48,497
- Deaths: 1,17,306
- Fresh cases in 24 hours: 54,366
- One-day recoveries: 73,979
- One-day deaths: 690
India reported less than 60,000 new infections for five consecutive days.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, however, warned masses to maintain precautions going into the festive season. “The lockdown may have ended, but the virus is still around us,” he said in an address to the nation last evening.
“Recent images and videos show many people may have become careless. Not wearing a mask or taking adequate precautions will put your family at risk.”
Global Update
Remdesivir, given to President Donald Trump as a Covid-19 treatment, received approval from the Food and Drug Administration. The seven-day average of U.S. deaths on Wednesday hit the highest in a month as Illinois, Ohio, Utah and North Dakota reported daily records.
The surge in U.S. cases mirrors those seen in the Europe, where governments have started deploying curfews and other restrictions more widely. The outbreak gained momentum with France reporting more than 40,000 new cases for the first time, as well as record infections in Italy, Germany and at least eight other nations. In Asia, South Korea reported the biggest increase in new cases in more than six weeks.
Globally, coronavirus cases surpassed 41.6 million, with more than 1.14 million deaths.
