India All Poised To Overtake Russia To Become The Third Largest Coronavirus Affected Country In The World

India is soon likely to overtake Russia to reach the third spot as the country registered the highest single-day spike of 22,771 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total tally of cases to 648,315. However, one positive development is that with the number of discharges nearing 4,00,000, the recovery rate is now even closer to 61%, currently standing at 60.80%. There are 2,35,433 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country at present.

Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Delhi, respectively, continue to be the three worst-hit states, by a distance. While Maharashtra has nearly 1.93 lakh cases, Tamil Nadu’s tally is at 1,02,721. Delhi meanwhile stands at 94,695. India is now ranked below the US, Brazil and Russia, the three countries with the highest number of coronavirus cases. However, India has furthered inched closer to Russia’s tally of coronavirus cases. While India has 6.48 lakh cases, Russia has 6.66 lakh coronavirus cases, according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker. The United States continues to be the worst-affected country in the world with 27 lakh cases. Brazil comes second 15 lakh cases. Some countries are experiencing resurgence in infections, leading authorities to partially reinstate lockdowns, in what experts say could be a recurring pattern in the coming months and into 2021.

The number of coronavirus cases worldwide has touched 11 million, according to the latest data by the Johns Hopkins University. More than 523,613 people have died globally due to the infection, according to the data compiled by the university. Meanwhile, the number of tests for COVID-19 in India has inched closer to the one crore-mark. According to the Indian Council Of Medical Research, 9,540,132 samples have been tested for COVID-19 so far.

Worldwide, scientists are racing to produce a vaccine for the deadly virus. Meanwhile, the first made-in-India coronavirus vaccine may be launched by August 15, with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) fast-tracking efforts to develop “Covaxin” in partnership with Bharat Biotech International Limited. Also, over 11,000 ‘Make In India’ ventilators have been produced and dispatched of which 6,154 have been delivered to hospitals across the country, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has said. The Ministry of Health is also supplying 1.02 lakh oxygen cylinders across India.