Health

India reports sharpest-ever single-day spike of 2,34,692 COVID infections in 24 hours

New Delhi: In the last 24 hours, India reported the sharpest-ever daily spike of 2,34,692 COVID infections thus taking the overall tally to 1.45 crore. The country also recorded over 2 lakh cases for the third straight day. With 1,341 deaths, India saw the deadliest day of the pandemic this year.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi this morning appealed in a tweet that the mega Kumbh Mela should “now only be symbolic”. The gathering of tens of thousands of pilgrims and fears of violation of COVID protocols along the banks of Ganga has sparked nationwide concern.

Maharashtra and Delhi saw the highest-ever surge in infections in the last 24 hours. With 63,729 new infections, Maharashtra’s caseload is past the 37-lakh mark now. Delhi, which has surpassed Mumbai, has recorded over 8 lakh cases since the start of the pandemic; 19,486 cases were recorded in the last 24 hours.

Grim scenes from hospitals running out of oxygen supply and crematoriums struggling to keep up have caused worry as authorities scramble to break the chain of transmission amid the fast-growing second wave.

The alarming surge in cases is being reported as states continue to report vaccine shortage. Over 12 crore doses of vaccines have been administered so far, according to the Health Ministry data. Yesterday, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stressing that “vaccine stocks have completely run out”.

Modi on Friday held a high-level meet about the efforts being made by the government to import medical grade oxygen to bridge the demand-supply gap.

 

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