The total number of recovered people affected with Coronavirus today crossed the 5.5 lakh mark. The Central Government said, a total of 5,53,471 people have recovered in the country so far and with this, the recovery rate reached 63.01 percent. During the last 24 hours, 18,850 people recovered from COVID-19.

The Health and Family Welfare Ministry today said a total of 28701 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the country within 24 hours taking the total number of cases to 8,78254. This is the highest number of fresh cases recorded in one day since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in India. Presently, the total number of active cases in the country is 3,01,609. In a single day, 500 deaths were reported taking the nationwide toll to 23174. With this, the case fatality rate reached 2.63 percent in the country.

Indian Council of Medical Research, ICMR said that a total of 2,19103 tests of Corona virus samples were conducted by the various laboratories in the country in the last 24 hours. So far, one crore 18,6256 tests have been conducted. ICMR is continuously scaling up its testing facilities for COVID-19 by giving approval to government and private laboratories. As of now, total 1, 200 laboratories across India have been given approval to conduct the test for COVID-19 including 852 government laboratories and 348 private laboratories' chains.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Amit Shah has said, the government is committed to facing the COVID-19 challenge and is resolute in overcoming this pandemic. The Home Minister said this while launching the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) nationwide tree plantation drive at Gurugram in Haryana today.

He said, India is leading a successful fight in managing the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Mr. Shah said, the battle against COVID-19 is being carried out under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with people's participation.

Mr. Shah said, at a time when the health services of even the most developed countries were collapsing under its impact, the whole world was concerned about how would India, which is such a big and densely populated country with a federal structure fight this pandemic. He said, but today the most successful fight against this pandemic has been fought in India.

Mr. Shah said the country is on a strong pedestal in the fight against COVID-19 under the leadership of the Prime Minister with the motto ‘One People, One Thought, One Nation.'

The Home Minister said, in this fight, Central Armed Police Forces are playing a very important role, whether it be marketing, railway stations whether state governments have sought support in managing crowded places or the local police sought the support in enforcing the lockdown.

He saluted the Corona Warriors of the CAPF who not only provide security and fight terrorism but also set an example before the nation and the world by being during deployment on COVID-19 duty, without bothering about their own life and safety.

Mr. Shah said, the CAPFs have lost more than 31 personnel to the pandemic and paid respects to them on the occasion.

The Home Minister said the nationwide CAPF tree plantation drive has set a target of 1.37 crore saplings. He said people should harness natural resources and not exploit them. The Home Minister said, however, today due to consumerism, this balance has been disturbed and as a result, we are facing the challenges of Climate Change and Global Warming.

Mr. Shah said Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the Paris World Environment Summit where he cautioned the world against over-exploitation of Nature and the world accepted the Modi Formula in the Paris Declaration on tackling Climate Change. He said the CAPFs must ensure that the tree plantation drive should not be seen as the conclusion. The Home Minister said it must be ensured that the saplings are taken care of till they are able to sustain on their own.