Reversing the trend, new Covid cases dipped below 26,000 in a day across Karnataka, while a record 626 patients succumbed to the infection in the last 24 hours, said the state health bulletin on Sunday."With 25,979 new cases registered on Saturday, the state's Covid tally rose to 24,24,904, including 4,72,986 active cases, while 19,26,615 recovered, with 35,573 patients discharged during the day," said the bulletin.As epicentre of the pandemic in the state, Bengaluru reported 7,494 fresh cases on Saturday, taking its Covid tally to 11,19,552, including 2,55,842 active cases, while recoveries increased to 8,52,493, with 12,407 patients discharged during the day.The infection, however, claimed 626 lives, including 362 in Bengaluru, taking the state's death toll to 25,282 and the city's toll to 11,216 since the pandemic broke out in mid-March a year ago.Among districts in which over 1,000 new cases were reported on Saturday are 2,222 in Mysuru, 1,618 in Hassan, 1,269 in Tumakur, 1,190 in Ballari and 1,066 in Belagavi, with the rest in the remaining 24 districts across the state.Out of 1,25,117 tests conducted across the state during the day, 17,848 were through rapid antigen detection and 1,07,269 through RT-PCR method.Positivity rate was 20.76 per cent and case fatality rate 2.40 per cent across the state on Saturday.Meanwhile, 34,360 people, including 18,499 above 45 years of age and 11,567 in 18-44 years age group were vaccinated across the state during the day."Cumulatively, 1,20,49,483 beneficiaries, including senior citizens above 60 years of age, healthcare workers and frontline warriors took the jab since the vaccination drive was launched across the southern state on January 16," added the bulletin.