In yet another biggest single-day spike, India recorded 10,965 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total tally to 2,86,579 on June 11, according to data released by the ministry of health and family affairs.
Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Delhi ¡ª three worst-hit states by coronavirus pandemic ¡ª witnessed the highest spike in daily COVID-19 count.
The death toll from the COVID-19 virus spiralled to 396 in the last 24 hours, killing 8,498 people in the country.
As of now, India has 141,842 active coronavirus patients and more than 49 per cent of the total coronavirus patients have recovered from the infection since the outbreak.
Even as India is touching 3,00,000 cases, the Indian Council of Medical Research said that less than One per cent of India's population has been infected by coronavirus, reiterating there was no community transmission yet in the country.
ICMR director general Balram Bhargava 's comments came two days after Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said the source of Covid-19 infection in 50 per cent of the cases in the national capital was unknown and it is up to the government to declare if the national capital has entered the community transmission stage.
Health Ministry¡¯s Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal too put to rest questions on community transmission in Delhi saying, ¡°If we get caught in grammar and let go of field action, we will suffer.¡±
Releasing the findings of its serological survey conducted across 83 districts in 21 states, Bhargava said 0.73 per cent of the population showed evidence of past exposure to new coronavirus and a significant portion of the population was still susceptible to Covid-19.
The survey findings in containment zones show that a large percentage of infections were mild or asymptomatic.?
Niti Aayog member VK Paul said the survey shows that the lockdown has been successful in preventing rapid spread. ¡°A large proportion of the population is still susceptible. Urban slums are highly vulnerable for spread of infection,¡± he was quoted as saying by ET.
India has now taken the fourth spot in the list of nations worst hit by coronavirus. With 2,95,772 cases on Thursday evening, India overtook the UK, which was in the fourth spot so far, with 2,91,588 cases.?
India is now preceded only by Russia, Brazil and the US.? Russia currently has 4.93 lakh cases and Brazil 7.72 lakh.? The US has the maximum cases with numbers exceeding 20 lakh.
The coronavirus numbers have been increasing exponentially since May 24, when India entered the list of top 10. It only took 18 days to reach the fourth slot.
The spike in cases comes amid the world's biggest lockdown, which is also touted as "successful."
On March 25, when the lockdown was declared, the country had a little over 500 cases with ten deaths.