India Covid-19 Tally Inches Close To A Lakh After 5,242 New Cases Spike Up In Last 24 Hrs

Maharashtra remains the most affected states with 33,053 cases, followed by Gujarat which has 11,379 cases and Tamil Nadu 11,224 cases so far.

New Delhi: Medics prepare to collect samples for swab tests from a COVID-19 mobile testing van, during the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus, at Ramakrishna Mission area in New Delhi, Saturday, May 2, 2020. (PTI Photo/Manvender Vashist)

New Delhi, May 18: India's Covid-19 outbreak has taken a grim turn with the sharpest spike of 5,242 new cases in 24 hours taking the total cases to 96,169, according to the Union Health Ministry data revealed on Monday. According to the health ministry, of the total, 56,316 are active cases while at least 36,823 people have been cured of the disease. At least 157 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, taking the total fatality count to 3,029. In Maharashtra, the Covid-19 cases climbed to 33,053, followed by Gujarat which has 11,379 cases and Tamil Nadu 11,224 cases so far. Gujarat is expected to chalk guidelines according to the containment zone and non-containment zone. Tomorrow District Collectors, Municipal commissioners will make a list of these zones, says Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani. Maharashtra has also reported the highest number of deaths, 1198, followed by 659 in Gujarat and 248 in Madhya Pradesh. Delhi's total tally crossed the 10,000-mark on Monday and stood at 10,054, according to the Health Ministry data. States which have reported more than 4000 cases are Rajasthan (5,202), Madhya Pradesh (4,977) and Uttar Pradesh (4,259). Another 140 positive cases have been reported in Rajasthan on Monday including two deaths. The total number of positive cases in the state rises to 5342, including 133 deaths and 2666 discharged, according to the Rajasthan Health Department. Other major states and Union Territories that have reported more than 1,000 cases are West Bengal (2,677), Andhra Pradesh (2,407), Punjab (1,964), Telangana (1,551), Bihar (1,262), Jammu and Kashmir (1,183) and Karnataka (1,147). Barber shops and salons reopen in Hubli as the fourth phase of the lockdown comes into effect. Among other states and UTs that have reported a significant number of cases are Haryana (910), Kerala (601), Odisha (828), Tripura (167), Jharkhand (223), Assam (101), Uttarakhand (92), Himachal Pradesh (80) and Chandigarh (191). Goa which had maintained Corona Free status for quite a long time and had few resurged cases recently, reported at least 15 new cases, taking the total tally there at 29, said the Health Ministry. Highest ever spike of 5,242 Covid-19 cases in last 24 hrs, 157 death reported in last 24 hrs. (With inputs from agencies)