NEW DELHI — India reported 83,883 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, its highest-ever single-day increase, and a global record, bringing the country's confirmed infections to more than 3.85 million, just 100,000 behind Brazil, the world’s second most affected nation, health ministry data showed.

The ministry said 1,043 people died from COVID-19, taking the total number of virus-related fatalities in the country to 67,376.

While the recovery rate has increased to 77.09 percent with 68,584 recoveries in the last 24 hours, India's mortality rate at 1.76 percent is one of the lowest in the world while the global rate stands at 3.3 percent.

India has been reporting 48 deaths/million population, also one of the lowest, while the global average is 110 deaths/million population, according to the country’s health ministry.

The western state of Maharashtra continues to be the worst-hit reporting a total of 808,306 cases and 24,903 deaths followed by the southern state of Andhra Pradesh with 4,45,139 cases and 4,053 deaths.

Meanwhile, a total of 11,72,179 samples were collected for COVID-19 testing on Wednesday, taking the total number of samples tested for coronavirus in the country to 4,55,09,380, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) informed.

"India witnesses an unprecedented surge in testing. Over 1,170,000 tests done in the last 24 hours. High levels of testing sustained over a period of time in widespread areas enable to diagnose cases early and facilitate seamless isolation and hospitalization. This eventually leads to a low mortality rate," the health ministry said in a tweet. — Agencies