India on Wednesday witnessed a new peak, as it reported 2,95,041 new cases of coronavirus, killing 2,023 people in the last 24 hours. According to the data shared by the Union Health Ministry, the country saw a total of 1,67,457 discharges in the last 24 hours, pushing the total recovery number to 1,32,76,039. The total cases of COVID-19 in India have now mounted to 1,56,16,130, with 21,57,538 active cases, the data showed. The total death toll in the country is now at 1,82,553. A total of 13,01,19,310 people have so far been vaccinated against COVID-19 in India.
Addressing the nation on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked states to use lockdowns only as the last resort, to deal with the soaring second wave of coronavirus pandemic. He has also urged the states to convince migrant workers, who have begun leaving for their homes amid fear of another lockdown in cities like Delhi and Mumbai to remain where they are with a guarantee that they will be vaccinated in the coming days and will also not lose their livelihoods.
Maharashtra is the worst-affected state. On Tuesday it recorded 62,097 fresh covid-19 cases, pushing the state's total tally to over 39.6 lakh, while 519 more patients died of the infection. Along with the lockdown-like restrictions that are already in place in the state, more restrictions are likely to come into force. Meanwhile, ministers have suggested a full lockdown to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and have left the final decision to him.
Other states that are worst impacted after Maharashtra are Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh have the highest number of infections.
Delhi on Tuesday, reported 28,395 covid-19 cases as it filed its biggest-ever single-day surge. After several SOS appeals from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Health Minister Satyendar Jain for oxygen supply at hospitals, there was a relief for some of the city's biggest hospitals after they received stocks of medical oxygen. Meanwhile, Kerala registered its highest one day spike in covid disease with 19,577 cases, taking the state's tally to over 12.72 lakh and 28 patients succumbed to death in a single day.
Uttar Pradesh has recorded nearly 30,000 fresh covid cases. The state has announced that it will start vaccination free of cost from May 1, when India’s vaccine scope will expand to include all people over the age of 18.
The total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country stands at 13,00,27,370, according to a provisional report updated at 9 pm on Tuesday.