Daily count in India below 1L after over 2 months

New Delhi: India reported less than one lakh new Coronavirus infections after a gap of 63 days, while the daily positivity rate dropped to 4.62 per cent, according to the Union Health ministry data updated on Tuesday.

A single-day rise of 86,498 cases was registered, the lowest in 66 days, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 2,89,96,473 out of which 2,73,41,462 people have recuperated from the disease.

The COVID-19 death toll climbed to 3,51,309 with 2,123 daily deaths, the lowest in 47 days, the data updated at 8 am showed.

A total of 81,466 new cases were recorded in a span of 24 hours on April 2.

Also, 18,73,485 tests were conducted on Monday taking the total cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of COVID-19 in the country to 36,82,07,596.

The daily positivity rate has dropped to 4.62 per cent. It has been less than 10 per cent for 15 consecutive days, the ministry said.

There has been a continued and sharp decline in daily new cases in the country, the government said on Tuesday but stressed on following COVID-19-appropriate behaviour to avert any future wave.

In a joint press briefing on the pandemic situation, Health ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said almost 79 per cent decline in daily new COVID-19 cases has been noted since the peak on May 7.

He said India has reported 20,822 Coronavirus cases and 252 deaths per million population, which is among the lowest in the world.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday extended Covid relaxations in all 75 districts of the state, with the active cases coming down the 600-mark in each of these districts.

The night curfew from 7 pm to 7 am and weekend curfew (for the entire day) will, however, continue throughout the state.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday announced the lifting of lockdown in the state from Wednesday onwards. "The lockdown has served the purpose of putting a check on Coronavirus cases. Hence it would now be done away with, though a few restrictions will remain," he said, adding that the night curfew will be in place from 7 pm to 5 am.

He also stressed that all government and private offices will be allowed to reopen and function with 50 per cent staff till 4 pm.