Hyderabad, Dec 30 : Coronavirus cases in Telangana continued to decline as the state reported 474 new cases on Wednesday and deaths of only three more patients. While the state's case tally went up to 2,85,939, the death toll increased to 1,538. The state's active cases now total 6,878, including 3,735 in home or institutional isolation. The fatality rate remained 0.53 per cent as against the national average of 1.4 per cent. According to Public Health and Family Welfare Director, 44.96 per cent of the deaths occurred due to COVID-19 while 55.04 per cent had comorbidities. Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) reported 102 new cases during the last 24 hours, followed by Rangareddy district (49), Medchal Malkajgiri (45), Karimnagar (29), Warangal Urban (25), and Bhadradri Kothagudem (18). The state also recorded 592 recoveries during the last 24 hours, taking the cumulative numbers to 2,78,523 and the recovery rate to 97.40 per cent as against the national average of 96 per cent. Over 90 per cent of the beds in government and private hospitals treating COVID-19 in the state remained vacant. Out of 8,559 beds available in 61 government hospitals treating COVID-19 patients, 7,792 beds were vacant. A total of 767 patients were undergoing treatment in these hospitals. Similarly, in 219 private hospitals treating COVID-19 patients, only 1,376 beds were occupied. Out of 7,791 beds, 6,415 were vacant. Of the 45,590 tests conducted during the last 24 hours, government-run laboratories accounted for 41,123 and private labs the remaining 4,467. Samples tested per million population ratio rose further to 1,83,752. The daily testing target for the state is 5,600 per day as against the World Health Organisation (WHO) benchmark of 140 per million per day, officials said. Eighteen government and 56 private laboratories and 1,076 Rapid Antigen test centres are conducting the tests in the state. Official data showed that 63.9 per cent of positive cases were aged between 21 and 50, 22.91 per cent above 51, and 13.18 per cent below 20. Of the total cases, 60.44 per cent were males and 39.37 per cent females. /IANS