India records 31% more COVID cases compared to last week, Maharashtra once again on top

22-02-2021

India recorded 14,199 new COVID-19 infections in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to over 11 million, the Union Health Ministry data revealed on Monday. This was the fifth consecutive day when the country registered an increase in cases as compared to the previous day. The death toll due to the novel coronavirus has risen to 1,56,385 after 83 more people died on Sunday. The number of recoveries, too, surged to 97.22%, meaning 1,06,99,410 people have recuperated from the virus. However, thorough reading and analysis of data show there is a cause for worry once again. For the first time in the last five weeks, India's weekly tally surged past 1 lakh. India recorded 1,00,990 cases in the week ending on February 21. In the week before this one, the country had registered 77,284 fresh infections, meaning there had been a 31% increase in cases last week. Among the states, Maharashtra has witnessed a significant spike in infections, reporting 6,971 new COVID-19 cases and 35 deaths in the last 24 hours alone. This was the state's highest tally of infections in the last 121 days. Of these, the Pune district registered 1,176 new infections and 6 deaths on Sunday. The district administration has directed all the educational institutions to remain shut to control the spread of the virus. As a result of a continuous surge in cases, the state has registered an 81% increase in infections when compared to last week. In the week ending on February 21, Maharashtra registered 36,606 cases, compelling Chief Minister Udhdhav Thackeray to impose fresh restrictions on social, political and religious gatherings. The Chief Minister, in his video address on Sunday, also said that the number of cases in the next one week will determine if Maharashtra will see another lockdown. He noted while lockdown may not be the solution to the crisis, it was the only way to break the chain. Kerala, which had seen a significant rise in infections recently, is now showing signs of improvement. In the last 24 hours, the state recorded 4,070 infections, 500 less than its previous day�s tally. In terms of weekly numbers, Kerala registered 30,871 cases, its lowest in 7 days since mid-September. India's national capital recorded only 145 cases and two deaths in the last 24 hours, a healthy sign for the people of Delhi. With the numbers seeing a consistent dip, the administration is likely to lift more restrictions in the coming days, The Times of India reported. Meanwhile, the United States inched closer to recording a shocking 5,00,000 deaths due to novel coronavirus, the most by a single country in the world. Even though the country's vaccine drive is in full swing, experts say it will still take some time for normalcy to return.