New Delhi, Dec 22 (IANS): For the first time since the first week of July, India on Tuesday recorded its lowest number of daily cases, which were 10,000 less than the number of recoveries, even as the tally went past 1,00,75,000 cases.

With 19,556 new coronavirus infections and 301 deaths in the past 24 hours, India's overall tally stood at 1,00,75,116, while the death toll touched 1,46,111, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said. The number of recoveries in the past 24 hours was 30,376.

This is the lowest tally of new cases in a day in the past six months. On July 2 the number was 20,903 and on June 28 it was 19,459.

Till now, 96,36,487 have recovered. Currently, there are 2,92,518 active cases. The recovery rate stands at 95.65 percent while the fatality rate is 1.45 percent.

A total of 16,31,70,557 samples have been tested for Covid-19 till now. Of these, 10,72,228 samples were tested on Monday, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said.

Maharashtra continues to be the worst-hit state to date. Over 70 percent of the daily new cases are being reported by 10 states and union territory -- Kerala, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

Over 75 percent of the deaths are being reported from Maharashtra, West Bengal, Delhi, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Haryana.

A new virulent strain of the Covid-19 virus has appeared in the UK and Africa. The mutant is said to be 70 percent more aggressive, according to reports. Flights and other forms of transport to and from the UK are being shut down quickly.