India's cumulative COVID-19 tests cross 15-crore mark

India's tally of cumulative COVID-19 testing has crossed 15 crores, out of which past one crore tests were added in just 10 days, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Thursday.

According to an official statement by the Union Health Ministry, 9,22,959 samples were tested in the last 24 hours, which has increased India's total cumulative tests to 15,07,59,726.

"The past one crore tests were added in just 10 days. Comprehensive and widespread testing on a sustained basis has resulted in bringing down the positivity rate," the Health Ministry said.

The ministry said India has reported less than 40,000 new daily cases for 11 continuous days. In the last 24 hours, only 31,521 persons were found to be COVID positive in the country.

"India also registered 37,725 new recoveries in the same duration, which has led to a further contraction of the active caseload. India's present active caseload of 3,72,293 consists of just 3.81 per cent of India's total positive cases," the release said.

"The total recovered cases have surpassed 92.5 lakh (92,53,306) today. The recovery rate has improved to 94.74 per cent. The gap between Recovered cases and Active cases is steadily increasing and presently stands at 8,881,013," the release further said.

A total of 77.30 per cent of the new recovered cases is contributed by 10 states/UTs.

Maharashtra saw 5,051 persons recovering from COVID. Kerala and Delhi reported 4,647 and 4,177 new recoveries, respectively, the ministry said. Besides, 10 states/UTs have contributed 74.65 per cent of the new cases.

Maharashtra reported 4,981 cases in the last 24 hours. Kerala recorded 4,875 new cases while West Bengal reported 2,956 daily cases yesterday.

As many as 77.67 per cent of the 412 case fatalities that have been reported in the past 24 hours, are from 10 states/UTs.

Furthermore, 18.20 per cent of new fatalities reported are from Maharashtra, which reported 75 deaths. Delhi also saw a figure fatality count of 50 contributing another 12.13 per cent of the fatalities, the Health Ministry stated.

The daily new deaths have been less than 500 from the last five days, the ministry informed.

( With inputs from ANI )