India's Covid tally increased to 18,55,745 with 52,050 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in a day, while the recoveries crossed the 12-lakh mark on Tuesday, according to the Union Health Ministry data.

The death toll due to Covid climbed to 38,938 with 803 fresh fatalities being reported in 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed.

A total of 12,30,509 people have recovered, while there are 5,86,298 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country.

The recovery rate among Covid patients has risen to 66.31 per cent, while the fatality rate has further dropped to 2.1 per cent, the data stated.

The total number of confirmed cases also includes foreigners.

This is the sixth consecutive day that Covid cases have increased by more than 50,000.

A cumulative total of 2,08,64,750 samples have been tested up to August 2 with 6,61,892 samples being tested on Monday, the highest done in a day so far, scientist and media coordinator at ICMR, Dr Lokesh Sharma, said.

"A total of 1,05,32,074 tests for detection of coronavirus infection have been performed, with per day average of 3,39,744 tests in July, the highest number of tests conducted in a month so far," Sharma said.

Currently, there are 917 labs in the government sector and 439 in the private sector for conducting Covid tests. Of the 803 fresh deaths reported, 266 are from Maharashtra, 109 from Tamil Nadu, 98 from Karnataka, 63 from Andhra Pradesh, 53 from West Bengal, 48 from Uttar Pradesh, 23 from Telangana, 22 from Gujarat, 19 from Punjab, 17 from Delhi, 14 from Madhya Pradesh, 12 from Rajasthan, 11 from Jammu and Kashmir and 10 from Odisha.