Even as India recorded a single-day spike of 65,002 fresh cases of the novel coronavirus infection in the past 24 hours, the country’s recovery rate rose to 71.61 per cent on Saturday. This comes after a record 57,381 patients were discharged in the past 24 hours. According to the health ministry data, the number of people in India who have recuperated from COVID-19 went past 18 lakh. The total number of cases in India stands at 25,26,193 including 49,036 deaths.
Earlier today, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that the government will not open schools unless it is “fully convinced” about the improved COVID-19 situation in the national capital. Kejriwal added that the situation is under control as compared to what it was two months back and thanked all the stakeholders, including the central government, ‘corona warriors’, and different organisations.
Meanwhile, the country celebrated its 74th Independence Day today amid the coronavirus pandemic with the revelries and crowds missing as state leaders urged people not to fear the disease and called for a mass awareness movement to combat it. Official celebrations in most states were restricted to unfurling of the national flag and chief ministers and governors addressing the people, with fewer guests in attendance.
Globally, more than 21 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus, with at least 7,59,411 deaths, according to a Reuters tally. The United States has the highest number of confirmed cases at 5,271,087, followed by Brazil (3,224,876), and India (2,461,190).