NEW DELHI, May 26:
The nationwide tally of COVID-19 cases crossed 1.47 lakh today with States like Bihar, West Bengal, Assam and Odisha reporting significant rise in their numbers amid large-scale return of migrant workers from other States. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik warned of more challenging days ahead and called for a new strategy to check the pandemic.
The numbers rose further in the worst-hit states including Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu as well, while Delhi, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh also figured among the States and Union Territories reporting new cases.
Some experts flagged an urgent need for more intense surveillance and monitoring in areas where migrants have returned to contain the outbreak and warned that their tallies may go up due to resumption of domestic flights on top of the special trains and flights.
The Union Health Ministry, however, said the recovery rate for COVID-19 cases in the country has seen an upwards trend and is better than many other countries, while the fatality has fallen further.
At a press briefing, Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said, “The recovery rate in the country continues to improve and is presently 41.61 per cent. The COVID-19 fatality rate has reduced from 3.3 per cent on April 15 to 2.87 per cent which is among the lowest in the world.”
In its morning update, the Ministry said the COVID-19 death toll has risen to 4,167 and the number of cases has climbed to 1,45,380 in the country, registering an increase of 146 deaths and 6,535 cases since Monday 8 AM. It put the number of active cases at more than 80,000 and recoveries at over 60,000.
However, a PTI tally of figures announced by different States and UTs, as of 9.30 pm, put the total number of confirmed cases across the country at 1,47,505 and a death toll of 4,268. It also showed a higher number of recoveries at over 63,500. (PTI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
