New Delhi: With a massive surge in coronavirus cases India surpassed the 5 lakh mark registering a new record of 18,552 new cases in the past 24 hours, according to the data provided by the health ministry. This is the highest number of new cases reported in a day. The death toll climbed to 15,685 as 384 deaths were recorded by the health ministry in the last 24 hours.

The total toll rose up to 5,08,953 including 1,97,387 active cases, 2,95,881 recovered. India raced past the 5 lakh mark just 6 days after the caseload recorded 4 lakh cases

Maharashtra sees a record rise of over 5000 new cases


As Maharashtra ramps up Covid-19 testing, the state on Friday, reported a single-day record of 5,024 new Covid-19 cases, taking the state's virus count to 1,52,765.

The number of active cases however are at 65,829 in the state and total patients discharged so far are 79,815.

The state's capital, Mumbai, saw its coronavirus count rise by 1,297 new cases reported in the last 24 hours, taking the city's tally to 72,175. With 44 new deaths reported today, Mumbai's death toll stands at 4,179. The number of active cases in Mumbai is 28,244 and 39,744 patients have recovered so far.



While Delhi recorded 3,460 fresh COVID cases in the last 24 hours, neighboring Gautam Buddha Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh, which comprises Noida and Greater Noida, recorded only 136 fresh cases.




The Vaccine Race

After admitting that the world may have a COVID-19 vaccine within one year or even a few months earlier, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday said that UK-based AstraZeneca is leading the vaccine race while US-based pharmaceutical major Moderan is not far behind.

WHO Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan stated that AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine candidate is the most advanced vaccine currently in terms of development.

"I think AstraZeneca certainly has a more global scope at the moment in terms of where they are doing and planning their vaccine trials," she said.