India's coronavirus case count has crossed the 9 lakh-mark as 28,498 new cases and 553 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours. While 23,727 people have died of the infection, over 5.71 lakh people have recovered, government data this morning showed.
Maharashtra recorded 6,497 new cases of COVID-19 and 193 deaths on Monday, pushing the state's total cases to 2,60,924. A comprehensive, two-phase lockdown has started in Pune from Monday midnight and will continue till July 23. This is yet another attempt to break the chain of the coronavirus infections. On Monday, Pune City limits reported 560 cases, taking total cases in the city to 29,600.
The Centre said that coordinated steps taken by it along with state governments have contributed to a "gradual surge" in the recovery of patients. It also said that there are 30 states and union territories (UTs) that have a fatality rate lower than the national average of 2.64 per cent.
