New Delhi: India registered a record single-day spike of 1,26,789 new COVID-19 cases, pushing its infection tally to 1,29,28,574. The number of active cases also went upwards to breach the nine lakh-mark again, Union Health Ministry data updated on April 8 showed.
The death toll due to the disease in the country increased to 1,66,862, with 685 new fatalities being reported in a day, according to the data updated at 8 am.
Registering a steady increase for the 29th day in row, the count of active cases has gone up to 9,10,319, which is 7.04% of the total infections, while the country’s recovery rate has dropped to 91.67%, it stated.
The active COVID-19 caseload in the country was recorded at its lowest of 1,35,926 on February 12, comprising 1.25% of the total infections.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,18,51,393, while the case fatality rate has dropped to 1.29%, the data stated.
Amidst rising cases, several state governments have brought curbs and night curfews, including Maharashtra (on weekend lockdown) and Delhi (curfews at night).
The Indian Medical Association and chief ministers of Delhi and Maharashtra have both asked for lowering the age of those who can receive shots to 18. The Centre has taken a dim view of this, with the Union health minister saying that such demands are politically motivated, in a lengthy letter.
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There is also concern over vaccines running out. Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope said on Wednesday that many inoculation centres in Maharashtra are being shut due to the shortage of the vaccine. The state now has 14 lakh doses which would last just three days, he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine, at AIIMS in New Delhi, Thursday, April 8, 2021. Photo: PTI
However, three states – Assam, Tamil Nadu and Kerala – recently concluded their assembly elections and one, West Bengal, is in the midst of eight-phase polls. Polls were also held in the Union Territory of Puducherry and for the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council, on April 6.
Although the polls were held amidst caution, campaigns before the polls saw large crowds and rallies in contravention of COVID-19 guidelines.
State-wise breakdown
The 685 new fatalities include 322 from Maharashtra, 62 from Punjab, 53 from Chhattisgarh, 40 from Uttar Pradesh, 35 from Karnataka, 22 from Gujarat, 20 from Delhi, 17 from Tamil Nadu, 16 from Kerala, 13 from Madhya Pradesh, 12 from Rajasthan and 11 each from Andhra Pradesh and Haryana.
A total of 1,66,862 deaths due to the disease have been reported so far in the country. This includes 56,652 fatalities from Maharashtra, 12,821 from Tamil Nadu, 12,731 from Karnataka, 11,133 from Delhi, 10,363 from West Bengal, 8,964 from Uttar Pradesh, 7,278 from Punjab and 7,262 from Andhra Pradesh.
The Union Health Ministry has said that more than 70% of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.
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“Our figures are being reconciled with the ICMR,” the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.
India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7 last year, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.
It went past 60 lakh on September 28 last year, 70 lakh on October 11, 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and the one-crore mark on December 19.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 25,26,77,379 samples have been tested for COVID-19 in the country so far, including 12,37,781 on Wednesday, April 7.
(With PTI inputs)