COVID-19 cases in India cross 7 lakh, deaths go past 20,000

India passed a grim double milestone on Tuesday in its fight against COVID-19, as it went past the figure of 7 lakh infections and 20,000 fatalities. Figures released by the ministry of health and family welfare on Tuesday showed the number of COVID-19 infections in India at 7,19,665 and deaths at 20,160.

In the 24-hour period before the updated figures were released, India recorded 22,252 COVID-19 cases and 467 fatalities from the virus.

The rise from 6 lakh COVID-19 cases to 7 lakh took just five days, the fastest increase of 1 lakh infections till date. India reached the figure of 1 lakh COVID-19 infections on May 19, with the infection rate surging since then. India crossed the figure of 2 lakh COVID-19 cases on June 3, 3 lakh cases on June 13, 4 lakh cases by June 21 and five lakh cases on June 27.

With respect to fatalities, India is now the eighth country to record over 20,000 deaths from COVID-19. India has seen a surge in fatalities since May. India crossed the figure of 10,000 deaths from COVID-19 on June 17 and crossed the 15,000 mark on June 26.

Maharashtra remains the state worst affected by COVID-19 in terms of both infections and fatalities. As of Monday, Maharashtra had recorded 2,11,987 cases and 9,026 deaths. Both Tamil Nadu and Delhi, the next two worst-affected states, have reported over 1 lakh COVID-19 cases.