India on Tuesday reported 56,211 new coronavirus cases, taking its tally to 1,20,95,855, data from the health ministry showed. Daily deaths rose by 271 and the virus has so far killed 1,62,114 people.
As many as 1,13,93,021 people have recovered from the infection. The active cases rose for the 20th straight day to 5,40,720.
According to the Indian Council for Medical Research, 24,26,50,025 samples have been tested up to March 29 with 7,85,864 samples being tested on Monday.
The country has been recording a surge in new cases – above the 60,000 mark – for the last three consecutive days. Maharashtra, which has been the hardest hit state in India, on Monday added 31,643 new infections, taking the overall tally to 27,45,518. The rise was still below Sunday’s highest one-day jump of 40,414 coronavirus positive cases. But the reduced figures was attributed to low testing because of Holi celebrations in the country.
A total of 6,11,13,354 people have been vaccinated so far under the country’s inoculation programme that began in January.
Six states, including Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, account for 79% of the 56,211 new cases recorded on Tuesday, data from the health ministry showed.
Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Karnataka and Chhattisgarh cumulatively account for 79.64% of the total active cases in the country. Maharashtra leads the pack with more than 62% of the active cases of the country concentrated in the state.
Ten states – Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Haryana and Rajasthan – are displaying an upward trajectory in daily cases, the health ministry said.
State updates
- Maharashtra is considering to impose a strict lockdown if people fail to follow the guidelines. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has already imposed a ban on all social gatherings and night curfew is in place to tackle the pandemic.
- Mumbai’s civic body on Monday directed hospitals and nursing homes not to allot beds to asymptomatic patients to ensure “prompt availability of beds to the needy” during the surge, NDTV reported. The country’s financial capital reported 5,888 new cases as Mumbai’s tally went up to 4,04,562.
- The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has also asked hospitals in the city to make use of all their maximum beds to accommodate the rising patients.
- Delhi reported its sharpest daily rise since December 13 with 1,904 cases. The national Capital now has 6,59,619 total cases. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu recorded more than 2,000 cases for the third consecutive day. A total of 2,279 cases took the state’s tally to 8,81,752.
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands reported six new Covid-19 cases, pushing the Union Territory’s tally to 5,052, PTI reported.
Global scenario
- Globally, the coronavirus has infected 12,66,51,176 people and killed 27,77,020, according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker. As many as 7,17,34,178 have recovered from the disease.
- A team of World Health Organization-appointed international experts will present details of their findings on Tuesday from a mission to China to study the origins of the coronavirus, AFP reported. Their report concluded that the virus was probably passed to humans from a bat via an intermediary animal.
- According to data from a study of vaccinated healthcare personnel and first responders in the United States, the vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna reduced the risk of infection by 80%, two weeks or more after the first shot, Reuters reported.
- United States President Joe Biden said that 90% of the adults in the country would be eligible for vaccination by April 19 and the final 10% no later than May 1, PTI reported.
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