Representational Image. AP

New Delhi: India recorded its highest daily tally of COVID-19 cases this year with 22,854 new infections, taking the total tally to 1,12,85,561, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.

The country last recorded such an increase in daily cases 76 days ago on 25 December when it registered 23,067 infections in a day.

The toll increased to 1,58,189 with 126 daily new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.

The total active cases have increased to 1,89,226 which now comprises 1.68 percent of the total infections. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,09,38,146 which translates to a national COVID-19 recovery rate of 96.92 percent, while the case fatality rate stands at 1.40 percent, the data stated.

India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on 7 August, 30 lakh on  23 August, 40 lakh on 5 September and 50 lakh on 16 September. It went past 60 lakh on 28 September, 70 lakh on 11 October, crossed 80 lakh on 29 October, 90 lakh on  20 November and surpassed the one-crore mark on 19 December.

According to the ICMR, 22,42,58,293 samples have been tested up to 10 March with7,78,416 samples being tested on Wednesday.

The 126 new fatalities include 54 from Maharashtra,17 from Punjab, and 14 from Kerala.

A total of 1,58,189 deaths have been reported so far in the country, including 52,610 from Maharashtra, followed by 12,530 from Tamil Nadu,12,379 from Karnataka, 10,931 from Delhi, 10,283 from West Bengal,8,740 from Uttar Pradesh, and 7,177 from Andhra Pradesh.

The health ministry stressed that more than 70 percent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.

“Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research,” the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.