As many as 35,871 new COVID-19 cases and 17,741 recoveries were reported in India in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry informed on Thursday. With the addition of fresh cases, the total number positive cases in the country reached 1,14,74,605, including 2,52,364 active cases and 1,10,63,025 recoveries. The death toll stands at 1,59,216 including 172 in the last 24 hours.
The single-day spike of 35,871 cases is the highest in 102 days. As many as 36,011 new infections were recorded on December 6.
Five States -Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu -continue to report a surge in the COVID daily new cases. 79.54% of the new cases are from these five states. These states also account for 84.88% of the new deaths. Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties (84). Punjab follows with 35 daily deaths and Kerala reported 13 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Maharashtra has reported the highest daily new cases at 16,620 (accounting for 63.21% of the daily new cases). It is followed by Kerala with 1,792 while Punjab reported 1,492 new cases.
Meanwhile, a rising trajectory of daily new cases is visible in eight states. These are Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka and Haryana. Kerala is reporting a consistently declining trend over the last month.
Amid the surge in Covid-19 cases, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held a virtual meeting with the Chief Ministers. He asked state leaders to quickly increase testing and expand vaccination to “stop the emerging second peak of corona”.
Also Read: How abortion bill ensures health, safety and dignity for women
“It is very important to track every infected person’s contacts in the shortest time and keep the RT-PCR test rate above 70 per cent. He insisted on more RT-PCR tests in states which give more emphasis to Rapid antigen tests like Kerala, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and UP,” PM Modi said while addressing the meeting held with Chief Ministers of States.
“It has now become necessary for us to become pro-active. Making micro-containment zones, wherever necessary, is very important if we want to limit the spread of the COVID-19 wave. We must not put our guards down at this crucial hour,” he added.
As many as 3,71,43,255 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered so far in the country.
India braces for heatwave: Top tips to stay safe in sweltering conditions
Flight cancelled or delayed? Guidelines you must know
Assembly elections 2023: Poll schedule for MP, Rajasthan, 3 other states out