Another record surge as India adds 3,46,786 cases; 2,624 deaths

New Delhi: The pandemic situation turned grim in India with a new daily high of 3.46 lakh cases and 2,624 fatalities on Saturday.

A record single-day rise of 3,46,786 Coronavirus cases pushed India's tally of infection to 1,66,10,481, while active cases crossed the 25-lakh mark. The death toll rose to 1,89,544 with a record 2,624 more fatalities in a day.

With a steady increase, active cases in the country reached 25,52,940 and comprise 15.37 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has further dropped to 83.49 per cent. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease rose to 1,38,67,997, while the case fatality rate has dropped to 1.14 per cent.

Ten states, including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, reported 74.15 per cent of the new COVID-19 cases

Also, 12 states are displaying an upward trajectory in daily cases. These are Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Bihar and West Bengal.

Most of these states have imposed night curfew, weekend shutdown and other lockdown-like restrictions.

In Kerala, lockdown-like curbs came into force for 48 hours with only essential services and emergency activities being allowed and a holiday declared for government offices and PSUs.

"We are sitting on a volcano which can explode any moment. People should understand the situation and take adequate precaution to protect themselves," Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, stressing that the situation was grim

The state reported over 26,000 fresh cases.

Cinemas, places of worship, malls, bars and salons must be shut effective April 26, the Tamil Nadu government announced reintroducing more curbs following surging COVID-19 cases.

Meanwhile, India has administered 14 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccine in just 99 days, the fastest in the world.

More than 24 lakh vaccine doses were administered on Saturday till 8 pm, the Health Ministry said on Saturday.

The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country stands at 14,08,02,794, according to a provisional report at 8 pm.

The beneficiaries include 92,89,621 healthcare workers (HCWs) who have taken the 1st dose and 59,94,401 HCWs who have taken the 2nd dose, 1,19,42,233 frontline workers (FLWs) who have got the first dose, and 62,77,797 FLWs the second dose.

As many as 4,76,41,992 people aged between 45-plus and 60 have got the first dose and 23,22,480 in the age group received the second dose.

As many as 4,96,32,245 beneficiaries aged above 60 years have got the first dose and 77,02,025 the second dose, the ministry said.

On Saturday, the 99th day of the nationwide vaccination drive, a total of 24,22,989 vaccine doses were given till 8 pm — 15,69,631 beneficiaries for the first dose and 8,53,358 for the second dose.