India records lowest daily COVID cases in 6 months with just 18,475 infections in 24-hour

India has logged in 18,475 fresh cases of coronavirus infection on Saturday, the lowest daily count since June 30, when 18,333 infections were registered in the country. With fresh additions, the country's total tally now stands at 1,01,88,263. The death toll remained below 300 for second consecutive day at 280.

As many as 97,61,538 people have recuperated from the virus, with 21,430 recovering in the last 24 hours. The recovery rate stands at 95.82 per cent. There are 2,78,690 active cases in the country as on date.

The fatality rate is 1.45 per cent and the death toll so far has reached 1,47,622.

A total of 16,81,02,657 samples have been tested for Covid-19 till now. Of these, 9,43,368 samples were tested on Saturday: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

Maharashtra continues to be the worst-hit state in the country till date with 19.16 lakh cases, including 49,189 deaths, according to data updated by state bulletin.

Here're some more updates related to covid-19:

*16 UK returnees have tested positive for virus in Maharashtra since screening began, reported PTI. "Their samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune to find out if they are carrying the new strain of the virus that was detected in the UK," a health official said.

*Delhi recorded 655 fresh COVID-19 cases, the lowest in over four months, and 30 more fatalities due to the disease on Saturday, authorities said.

*Eight people who recently returned from the UK to Kerala, have tested positive for coronavirus and their samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune for genomic analysis.

*South Korea has reported 970 new coronavirus cases, reports Reuters.

*Countries around the world will need to move swiftly to repair and reinforce their health systems in 2021, said World Health Organisation (WHO).

*Assam reported 61 new COVID-19 positive cases on Friday, the lowest since May 23.

* Palestine is set to receive the first shipment of Covid-19 vaccines within two weeks, a top official said here.

*The first two cases of the new coronavirus strain that emerged in the UK earlier this month have been confirmed in Canada, Ontario, the official announcement said.

Meanwhile,  the overall number of global coronavirus cases has crossed the grim milestone of 80 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 1.75 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University.