India Sees 90,928 New COVID-19 Cases In 24 Hours, More Than 30,000 From The Previous Day

The number of COVID-19 infections in India continues to climb at an alarming pace and in the past 24 hours, the country added 90,928 new infections to the tally.

On Wednesday, the number of daily COVID-19 cases was 58,097.

This is the highest single-day rise in COVID-19 infections in India since June 10, when as many as 91,702 new infections were reported in a day.

Reuters

According to the Union Health Ministry, a total of 325 deaths have also been reported at the same time.

The active caseload has jumped to 2,85,401 which constitutes 0.81 per cent of the country's total positive cases.

Omicron cases cross 2,600

Meanwhile, the Omicron infection tally has climbed at 2,630 across the nation.

495 Omicron cases in a day is the highest recoded in India till now.

AFP

However, out of total Omicron positive cases, 995 have been discharged from hospitals. So far 26 states have reported Omicron cases, said the Union health ministry on Thursday.

Of the total cases, Maharashtra has the maximum at 797, followed by Delhi at 465, Rajasthan 236, Kerala 234, Karnataka 226, Gujarat 204 and Tamil Nadu 121.

The recovery of 19,206 patients in the last 24 hours has increased the cumulative tally to 3,43,41,009. Consequently, India's recovery rate stands at 97.81 per cent.

Also in the same period, a total of 14,13,030 tests were conducted across the country. India has so far conducted over 68.53 crore cumulative tests.

AFP

On Wednesday, the Centre had said there was an "exponential rise" in COVID-19 cases with the acceleration "steeper than ever" reflected by a higher R naught value than during the peak of the brutal second wave.

Night curfew in states

As Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh joined a growing list of states to clamp night curfew in line with fresh curbs to deal with the expanding pandemic, the Centre said the upsurge in COVID cases--a 6.3 times rise in the last eight days--is happening in cities and the Omicron variant is the predominant circulating strain.

"The R naught value is 2.69. This is higher than 1.69 that we saw at the second wave on peak. The acceleration of cases is steeper than ever," NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr V K Paul told a joint news conference. A ferocious second COVID wave had swept the country in April-May last year.

AFP

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General Dr Balram Bhargava said the spike in the number of COVID cases is being witnessed in cities and "the Omicron variant is the predominant circulating strain".

Mass gatherings need to be avoided to lower the speed of the infection spread, he told the news conference, in the backdrop of the upcoming Assembly polls in five states which is expected to witness campaign rallies.

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