Seven States have contributed to 70% of these new cases in the last 24 hours. Of these, Maharashtra has contributed the maximum case load amounting to almost 21%, followed by Andhra Pradesh (13.5%), Karnataka (11.27%) and Tamil Nadu which stands at 8.27%.

Uttar Pradesh with 8.27%, West Bengal with 3.85%, and Odisha with 3.84% are the remaining States contributing to the increased caseload. Of the total cumulative number of cases, 43% are recorded in just three states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

While Tamil Nadu has contributed 11.66% of the total cases. Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka account for about 50% of the deaths added in the last 24 hours due to COVID-19, with Maharashtra leading with 30.48%.The Union Government yesterday said that the COVID-19 recovery rate in the country has reached 76.61 per cent. Around 60,868 people recovered from the infection during the last 24 hours.

The Health Ministry said, the total number of recoveries has reached over 27 lakh 74 thousand so far.

The Ministry said, the last five lakh recoveries have been recorded in only eight days.

The constantly increasing recoveries have ensured reduction in the actual caseload of the country and it now comprises only 21.60 per cent of the total positive cases.Currently, India’s Case Fatality Rate is at 1.79 per cent, which is one of the lowest globally.

According to Indian Council of Medical Research, over 8,46000 tests were conducted during the last 24 hours. The total number of samples tested so far has gone up to over 4 crore 23 lakhs.

Meanwhile,  Japan has committed an official Development Assistance loan of 3500 crore rupees for the COVID-19 Crisis Emergency Response Support. The Notes were exchanged between the Additional Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs Dr C.S. Mohapatra and Ambassador of Japan to India Suzuki Satoshi for a Health sector programme loan to fight the COVID-19 crisis.

Subsequent to the Exchange of Notes, Loan Agreement for the programme loan was signed between Dr Mohapatra and Chief Representative of JICA in New Delhi Katsuo Matsumoto.

Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA is a governmental agency that coordinates Official Development Assistance for the Government of Japan.

This programme loan aims to support India’s efforts in fighting COVID-19 and to prepare the health system to manage future epidemics and also to improve the resilience of India’s health systems against infectious diseases.

Notes were also exchanged between Dr. Mohapatra and Mr Satoshi for Grant Assistance of 70 crore rupees from the Government of Japan.

This Grant-in-aid from the Government of Japan is for providing medical equipment to strengthen the public health and medical system in India. It will strengthen the health care facilities for managing critical and serious patients suffering from COVID-19 infection.

India and Japan have had a long and fruitful history of bilateral development cooperation since 1958. In the last few years, the economic cooperation between India and Japan has strengthened and grown into strategic partnership. It further consolidates and strengthens the Strategic and Global Partnership between India and Japan.