COVID-19: India's recovery rate jumps to over 87%

CHANDIGARH, India

With India's coronavirus case count reaching 7.37 million on Friday, the Health Ministry said the recovery rate of COVID-19 patients has jumped to 87.56%.

On Friday morning, official figures revealed 63,371 more infections were registered in the last 24 hours, taking the total to 7.37 million. The death toll reached 112,161.

According to the Indian government, the recovery rate has further increased.

"India's #COVID19 recovery rate improves to 87.56% as on October 16, 2020. Steady improvement in India's COVID-19 recovery rate since #lockdown initiation on March 25, 2020," said a government update on Twitter.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the main opposition party Indian National Congress, criticized the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for poor handling of the COVID-19 situation.

"Another solid achievement by the BJP government. Even Pakistan and Afghanistan handled Covid better than India," Gandhi tweeted on Friday.

The latest projection by International Monetary Fund, meanwhile, stated the Indian economy will contract 10.3 % this year amid the pandemic.

Starting from Thursday, cinemas, theaters and multiplexes (up to 50% of seating capacity); entertainment parks and swimming pools used for training of sportspeople reopened as part of measures allowing more activities in the country.