India's COVID-19 cases cross 20 million 

India's COVID-19 cases cross 20 million 

A paramedic uses an oximeter to check the oxygen level of a patient inside an ambulance while waiting to enter a COVID-19 hospital for treatment, amidst the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Ahmedabad, India, April 22, 2021.

India's total tally of COVID-19 cases crossed the20-millionmark with over 50,00,000infections being addedin just 15 days.

The total tally of coronavirus cases in the country mounted to 2,02,82,833 with 3,57,229 new infections being reported in a day, while the death toll increased to 2,22,408 with3,449new fatalities,according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday.

Registering a steady increase, the active cases have increased to34,47,133 comprising 17 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 81.91 per cent,thedata updated at 8 am showed.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Thenumber of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,66,13,292,while the case fatalityratewasrecorded at 1.10 per cent, the data stated.

According to the ICMR, 29,33,10,779 samples have been tested up toMay 3with16,63,742samples being tested on Monday.

The 3,449 new fatalities include 567 from Maharashtra, 448 from Delhi, 285from Uttar Pradesh, 266fromChhattisgarh,239from Karnataka, 155 from Punjab, 154from Rajasthan, 140 each from Gujarat and Haryana, 129 from Jharkhand, 128 from Uttarakhand and 122 from Tamil Nadu.

A total of 2,22,408 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 70,851 from Maharashtra, 17,414 from Delhi, 16,250 from Karnataka, 14,468 from Tamil Nadu, 13,447 from Uttar Pradesh, 11,637 from West Bengal, 9,472 from Punjab and 9,275 from Chhattisgarh.

The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.

"Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research," the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.

(With input from agencies)