The total COVID-19 cases in India surged to 161,000 including 4,706 deaths amid lockdown to curb the spread of the highly contagious virus.
New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi met with Home Minister Amit Shah and senior officials today to discuss the way forward as the national lockdown that began from 25th March, ends on Sunday.
A decision on whether to extend the restrictions amid the steady rise in virus cases, given the need to reopen economic activity is anticipated tomorrow.
The ministry of home affairs has been asked to examine inputs from various sectors and states.
Some states have already extended the national lockdown.
However, states like Karnataka have asked the reopening of religious centres.
Religious places and gatherings, which draw huge crowds and challenge attempts to enforce physical distancing, have been shut since the nation went into lockdown in late March.
Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, the nation’s top bureaucrat, and other top ministers were present in the meeting.
As India records its highest spike in cases in a day, the centre prepares for the lockdown exit strategy.
Maharashtra, the worst affected state by the virus, recorded 59,546 cases and over 1,982 deaths. The state recorded over 2,500 cases in the last 24 hours.
Of these, Mumbai alone reported over 32,000 cases along with over 1000 deaths.
Follows Tamil Nadu as it witnessed the sharpest hike in fresh cases this week. Total cases in the state surge to 19,372.
Also Read: COVID-19 Death Toll in India Surpasses China’s, Cases At 1.6 Lakh
Delhi recorded over 16,281 COVID-19 cases, third highest in the country.
Gujarat with over 15,562 cases of highly infectious coronavirus.
Tiny Himalayan state of Sikkim and Nagaland registered their first COVID-19 cases.
Across the country, at least 69,000 patients have cured so far the recovery rate stood at 42%.
Currently, there are over 89,987 active COVID-19 patients in the country.
India is the 9th worst-affected country in terms of the total number of COVID-19 cases, overtaking Turkey, China and Iran.
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