India on Friday crossed 7.90 Lakh coronavirus cases with a record single-day jump of 26,506 new patients testing positive for the highly contagious virus, as per the data shared by the health ministry.
Around 4.95 lakh patients have recovered since the beginning of the pandemic, while as many as 21,604 deaths linked to the illness have been recorded, according to the official figures. In the last 24 hours, 475 COVID-19 patients died.
India has the third-highest number of coronavirus cases in the world after the United States (30,54,695) and Brazil (17,13,160).
The national capital’s COVID-19 count crossed the grim one lakh milestone this week but the number of active cases is dipping as is the positivity rate while the recovery rate is going up, raising hopes of the epidemic curve flattening if the trends continue.
As testing is significantly ramped up, the death rate, too, has fallen marginally and the projected explosion of cases hasn”t happened. The signs are undoubtedly good but these are just baby steps as Delhi moves ahead in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, cautioned experts.
“We can say the curve seems to be flattening, though this virus is novel and can spring a surprise,” a senior doctor at the frontline of the fight in a private hospital said on the condition of anonymity.