Published in: The Daily Star

Date: 16 Aug 2020

India recorded over 63,000 new coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours, taking the total caseload to 25.89 lakh, according to data from the country’s health ministry today.

With 944 fresh deaths in the last 24 hours, the total toll inched towards the 50,000-mark with the figure standing at 49,980 today.

The number of recovered patients mounted to 18,62,258, the health ministry said adding that the recovery rate stood at 71.91 percent this morning, compared to yesterday’s 71.6 per cent.

Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh are once again the five states that recorded the highest number of cases in the last 24 hours, the official data show. These states also reported the highest number of Covid-19 linked deaths since yesterday.

With 5.84 lakh cases, Maharashtra is the worst-hit in the country, followed by Tamil Nadu (3.32 lakh), Andhra Pradesh (2.81 lakh) and Karnataka (2.19 lakh).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had yesterday said three coronavirus vaccines are at different stages of trial in India and once doctors gave the green signal, the government would quickly implement a plan for its production and distribution.

Minister of State for Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey said yesterday that scientists are working on the coronavirus vaccine and if their efforts bear fruit, Covid-19 warriors will be the first ones to get the dose.

Source:

https://www.thedailystar.net/india/news/india-sees-63000-new-coronavirus-cases-last-24-hours-1945833