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NEW DELHI: The number of new coronavirus infections reported in a day dropped below 30,000 after four months, taking India’s Covid-19 caseload to 88.74 lakh, while the number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 82,90,370 according to the Union health ministry data updated on Tuesday.
The lowest number of new cases since July 15
The last time coronavirus cases dipped below 30,000 on July 15 when the country registered 29,429 cases.
The total coronavirus cases mounted to 88,74,290 with 29,163 infections being reported in a day while the death toll climbed to 1,30,519 with 449 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.
India’s Covid-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23 and 40 lakh on September 5. It went past 50 lakh on September 16, 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11 and crossed 80 lakh on October 29.
Coronavirus spreading at a faster pace
However, across the world the coronavirus pandemic appears to be worsening.
South Korea will impose stricter social distancing rules for the greater Seoul area a month after easing them, officials said on Tuesday, warning of an even bigger crisis if anti-Covid-19 efforts fail to dampen a spike in new cases.
In Germany, the situation was described as very serious even though infection numbers are not rising so fast. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was very worried about the uncontrolled spread of coronavirus in some places, including the capital Berlin.
The US surpassed 11 million coronavirus cases Sunday, adding one million new cases in less than a week, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.
The dizzying rise came as cities and states across the United States were implementing new restrictions to try to halt the spread of the virus, with stay-at-home orders set to be imposed on Chicago Monday.
The US had crossed the 10 million case threshold on Monday, November 9.
‘Unprecdented’ situation in Delhi
Back in India, Delhi seems to be passing through an unprecedented situation as the number of new coronavirus cases surpassed Maharashtra — the worst-affected state in the country — earlier this month.
An “unprecedented situation” has emerged in Delhi, which could worsen in coming weeks with Covid-19 cases rising to 500 cases per million population from around 361 currently, according to a Niti Aayog assessment highlighting violation of Covid norms during the festive season.
Delhi’s surge at 361 cases per million population has been bigger than other metros like Chennai (214), Mumbai (140) and Kolkata (63)
Is the third wave over in Delhi?
Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain refuted reports of reimposition of lockdown in the capital, adding that the third wave of Covid-19 has passed its peak in Delhi.
The first confirmed case of Covid-19 in Delhi was reported on March 2. Since then, the city has registered over 4,85,000 cases with peaks in the months of June, September and November.
Delhi recorded the highest number of fresh Covid-19 cases in the country for the second week running with Kerala in second place.
Kerala reported the second-highest number of cases during the week at 39,471, although the count had fallen from the previous week’s tally of 45,979. In fact, the weekly Covid-19 count of cases shows a clear north-south divide. While cases have been falling across south India, numbers have been shooting up in most states in the north. On Monday, 451 deaths were recorded.
(With inputs from agencies)
