India reports over 4,00,000 COVID-19 cases for the first time, Maharashtra worst affected

India  reported over 400,000 fresh Covid-19 cases for the first time as the tally crossed 19 million-mark, according to Union health ministry’s data. With 4,019, 93 fresh coronavirus cases, India”s Covid-19 tally has risen to 19,164,969. The country also recorded 3,523 deaths on Friday, including 870 in Maharashtra, 375 in Delhi, 332 in Uttar Pradesh, and 269 in Chhattisgarh. According to the health ministry, 3,523 patients succumbed to the viral disease in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 211,853. As many as 299,988 patients were discharged in the last 24 hours and so far 15,684,406 people have recovered from the viral disease, the health ministry’s dashboard showed at 8am. 

With this, the country’s recovery rate stands at 81.84%, the data also showed.Maharashtra continues to remain the worst affected state in terms of the total confirmed cases and active caseload. Maharashtra on Friday reported 62,919 fresh Covid-19 cases and 828 deaths, said the state health department. The Centre on Friday expressed concern that many states are not only recording a higher peak of coronavirus disease cases than in September last year but also seeing a high growth trajectory. Joint secretary in the health ministry Lav Agarwal said the country witnessed its first peak in September and is witnessing another peak in April. Some countries have also witnessed the third wave of Covid-19, he said. India has been recording over 300,000 cases every day for over a week now. More than 200,000 cases a day are being recorded since April 15. The shortage of hospital beds, medical oxygen and crucial anti-viral drugs has added to the crisis. The United States has imposed restrictions on travel from India starting on May 4 because of the extraordinarily high Covid-19 caseloads and multiple variants circulating in the country.