India Records 62,714 New COVID-19 Infections in Highest One-day Rise This Year
Image credit: The Print
New Delhi: India saw 62,714 new coronavirus infections in a day, the highest single day rise so far this year, taking the nationwide COVID-19 tally to 1,19,71,624, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.
Registering a steady increase for the 18th day in row, the active cases have increased to 4,86,310 comprising 4.06% of the total infections, while the recovery rate has further dropped to 94.58%, the data stated.
The 62,714 new cases were reported in a span of 24 hours, the highest since October 16, 2020, while the death toll increased to 1,61,552 with 312 daily new fatalities, the highest in around three months, the data updated at 8 am showed.
The daily death toll of 312 is the highest since December 25, 2020 when 336 new deaths were reported.
As many as 63,371 new infections were recorded in a span of 24 hours on October 16.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,13,23,762, while the case fatality rate stood at 1.35%, the data stated.
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, 24,09,50,842 samples have been tested up to March 27 with 11,81,289 samples being tested on Saturday.
Positivity Rate Highest in Maharashtra
Eight states and UTs have a weekly positivity rate of coronavirus infection higher than the national average of 5.04 per cent, with Maharashtra recording the highest rate at 22.78 per cent, the Union Health ministry said on Sunday.
Apart from Maharashtra, the other seven states and UTs with higher positivity rate than national average are Chandigarh (11.85 per cent positivity rate), Punjab (8.45 per cent), Goa (7.03 per cent), Puducherry (6.85 per cent), Chhattisgarh (6.79 per cent), Madhya Pradesh (6.65 per cent) and Haryana (5.41 per cent).
On the testing front, 15 states/UTs have lower tests per million than the national average (1,74,602). These states include Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra, the Health ministry said.
New Restriction in National Capital
In view of the recent surge in coronavirus cases in the national capital, the Delhi government on Saturday put a cap of 200 guests in marriage and other events at open-air venues and of 100 people for closed spaces in the city.
In an order, Chief Secretary Vijay Dev said not more than 50 people will be allowed at funerals in the national capital.
Dev, who is also the chairperson of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority's (DDMA) state executive committee, said the order will be in force till April 30.
He, however, said status quo will be maintained regarding current permissible and prohibited activities in the city.
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