Coronavirus cases continue to rise sharply in India with eight states — Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab — showing a steep rise in COVID-19 cases. These eight states together report 81.90 per cent of the new corona cases in the country. Maharashtra alone accounts for over 55 per cent of the new COVID cases in India. 

This data, shared by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, also shows that at least 12 states are showing an upward trajectory of daily corona cases. Last night, India crossed the 100,000 daily new COVID19 cases mark for the first time since the pandemic began a year ago. The previous highest daily new cases were recorded on September 16 last year, when 97,894 positive cases were reported. 

Also Read: India crosses 100,000 daily new COVID19 cases for the first time since the pandemic began

Maharashtra, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Kerala and Punjab cumulatively account for 75.88 per cent of the total active cases in the country. Maharashtra alone accounts for nearly 58.23 per cent of the total active caseload in India.

Meanwhile, eight states account for 84.52 per cent of the new deaths. Maharashtra again tops the list with maximum daily casualties (222 yesterday). However, 12 states and Union Territories have not reported any COVID-19 related death in the last 24 hours. These include Puducherry, Ladakh, Daman & Diu & Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura, Sikkim, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, A&N Islands, and Arunachal Pradesh.

To contain the spread of the virus, yesterday the Maharashtra government announced a new set of guidelines called — Break The Chain. These guidelines will come into effect from 8pm today and are likely to be in place till April 30. Restrictions include a night curfew and a “strict lockdown” over the weekends from Friday 8 pm to Monday 7 am. Shops, malls, schools, colleges, markets, except groceries, medicines, will remain closed.