New Delhi: India’s coronavirus caseload increased to 7,42,417 on Wednesday with a single day rise of 22,752 COVID-19 cases, even as the recovery rate further improved to over 61.5 per cent, according to Union Health Ministry data.
The death toll climbed to 20,642 with 482 people succumbing to the disease, the updated data at 8 am showed.
The number of recoveries stands at 4,56,830, while there are 2,64,944 active cases of the coronavirus infection currently in the country.
The rate of recovery among COVID-19 patients continues to increase and touched 61.53 per cent on Wednesday, the ministry said.
During the last 24 hours, a total of 16,883 COVID-19 patients have been cured, it said.
Growing healthcare infrastructure of various types of COVID facilities, adequately supported by ICU and oxygen supported beds, ventilators and other equipment, has facilitated and ensured timely detection and effective clinical management of COVID-19 positive cases, the ministry said.
With more coronavirus patients recovering, the gap between the number of recovered cases and active cases has increased by 1,91,886 as on date, it said.
The ministry said that the number of samples being tested for detection of COVID-19 is substantially growing every day with 2,62,679 samples being tested on Tuesday of which more than 53,000 samples have been tested in private laboratories.
The cumulative number of samples tested, as of now, is 1,04,73,771, the ministry said, adding that the tests per million stand at 7,180.
This is because of the sharply focussed “test, trace, treat” strategy of the central government, in coordination with the states and union territories, it said.
A crucial component in the appreciable growth in COVID-19 testing is the increased number of diagnostic labs across the country. There are 795 labs in the government sector and 324 private labs.
The total number of confirmed cases includes foreigners.
