Highest Spike In Covid-19 Cases In 78 Days, India Records 23,285 New Infections
India recorded 23,285 fresh cases of coronavirus infection in 24 hours, the highest in around 78 days, taking the total tally of Covid-19 cases to 1,13,08,846, according to the data updated by Union Health Ministry on Friday.
The death toll surged to 1,58,306 with 117 daily new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.
The total active caseload increased to 1,97,237, which now comprises 1.74 per cent of the total infections, while the national recovery rate has dropped to 96.86 per cent.
On December 24, 24,712 new infections were reported in a span of 24 hours.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to1,09,53,303, while the case fatality rate stands at 1.40 per cent, the data stated.
With the number of infections rising sharply in the state of Maharashtra, a complete lockdown has been imposed in Nagpur from March 15 to March 21 due to a sudden rise in the recorded cases. Nagpur city saw a spike of 1,710 Covid-19 cases on Thursday.
Nagpur Guardian Minister Nitin Raut said, “Complete lockdown to remain imposed in Nagpur City Police Commissionerate area from March 15 to March 21. Essential services will continue.” The state government had earlier imposed a night curfew in Kalyan Dombivli and Nandurbar districts.
Amid a spurt in Covid-19 cases, the Punjab government on Thursday also announced a night curfew in Patiala district from March 12. However, the state government has exempted the essential services, government officials and medical emergency services from the purview of curfew.
Finance capital Mumbai has also been witnessing a spurt in Coronavirus cases. The civic body (BMC) has said that they may resort to any option including lockdown if corona cases don’t go down in Mumbai.
The centre on Thursday expressed its concern over the rise in active Covid-19 cases in a few states, including Maharashtra, and advised people to be “careful and watchful” and not lower guard as the pandemic is not yet over.
While referring to the lockdown imposed in Nagpur, NITI Aayog member (Health) V K Paul said, “We are reaching a situation where these approaches (to tackle the spread of COVID-19) are being brought back.”
Meanwhile, the first case of the South African Covid-19 strain was found in Karnataka on Wednesday. So far, a total of 29 people have tested positive for the UK strain in the state.
India’s Covid-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.It went past 60 lakh on September 28,
70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.
According to the ICMR, 22,49,98,638 samples have been tested up to March 11 with 7,40,345 samples being tested on Thursday.
(With inputs from PTI)
