India on Saturday recorded 24,882 fresh Covid-19 infections, the highest so far this year, taking the tally to 1,13,33,728, according to the Union Health Ministry data. This is also the highest daily rise in the last 83 days. As many as 26,624 new infections were recorded on December 20.
Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh reported 87.72% of the new cases in the last 24 hours. Maharashtra accounts for 63.57 per cent of India’s total active cases.
This is the fourth time that the country’s single-day cases have crossed the 20,000-mark this year. The active cases also soared to 202,022, after a downward trend since January 20, as 4,785 new cases were added in the last 24 hours, comprising 1.74% of the total cases seen so far. The first two instances of a spike in active cases were seen in the first week of January when the first wave of Covid cases was receding, followed by a third rise on March 11.
At least 140 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours.
The surge in Covid-19 cases reported on Saturday is almost 7 per cent higher than the previous day’s number. Data also showed that 19,957 people were cured of the coronavirus disease in the last 24 hours, taking the recoveries to 10,973,260 so far and the national recovery rate to 96.81%.
After witnessing a reduced number of cases in the last few months, the infections have once again spiked in several parts of the country.
In a bid to combat the infection spread, the State Governments like Maharashtra have implemented restrictions and pushed the Covid-19 vaccination drive in the country with full force.
The Centre said 2,82,18,457 vaccine doses have been administered so far, with 20,53,537 doses given in the last 24 hours.
The Government has been asking the people to not take the virus for granted. “It can come up unexpectedly. If we have to remain free of this virus, Covid-appropriate behaviour, containment strategy as well as vaccination has to be brought in,” said an official from the Ministry.
He advised that in districts where Covid-19 cases are seemingly on the rise, vaccination of eligible individuals should be intensified and prioritised.