India has logged in 2,17,353 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, the biggest single-day spike ever, pushing the overall tally to 14,291,917 cases on Friday, according to the Health Ministry data. This is the second consecutive day that the country has registered over 2 lakh cases. On Thursday, the number was 2,00,739. In the same time, 1,185 new Covid-19 fatalities were reported, the second consecutive day with over a thousand deaths. The overall death toll in the country has now reached to 1,74,308. Meanwhile, the daily active cases tally on Friday rose to 15,69,743.
A total of 1,18,302 patients recovered in the same time span, taking the number of recoveries to 1,25,47,866, with a recovery rate of 88.31 per cent. The Health Ministry said that a total of 14,73,210 samples were tested in the last 24 hours. So far, 26,34,76,625 samples have been tested in the country.
According to the government data, a total of 27,30,359 people were also vaccinated in the same period, taking the total immunisation count to 11,72,23,509.
Here’s some more updates:
*We are now equipped with everything. We know all the techniques and guidelines. The only challenge is how to overcome the present surge in Covid cases: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan Singh
*Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray to chair a meeting through video conferencing later today, to assess the Covid situation in the jurisdiction of BMC and also to take an update on BMC’s pre-monsoon preparations
*Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa holds an emergency meeting at his residence over the Covid-19 situation. State health minister Dr K Sudhakar and other senior officials present. “Night curfew will continue in 7 districts. Cases have increased, we have collected all information. We will take a call on extension (of night curfew) on April 20th, till then the existing restrictions will continue,” he said.
* In view of the rising Covid-19 cases, the Rajasthan government has announced a weekend curfew in the state from Friday evening to Monday morning.
