India Adds Record over 3.49 Lakh New COVID-19 Cases in Single Day

With a record single-day rise of 3,49,691 new coronavirus infections, India's total tally of COVID-19 cases climbed to 1,69,60,172, while active cases crossed the 26-lakh mark, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

The death toll increased to 1,92,311 with a record 2,767 daily new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.

Registering a steady increase, the active cases have increased to 26,82,751 comprising 15.82% of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has further dropped to 83.05%.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,40,85,110, while the case fatality rate has further dropped to 1.13%, the data stated.     

India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past  60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on  November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. India crossed the grim milestone of 1.50 crore on April 19.  

According to the ICMR, 27,79,18,810 samples have been tested up to April 25 with 17,19,588 samples being tested on Saturday.

Lockdown Extended in Delhi, Restrictions in Kashmir

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday announced extension of the ongoing lockdown in the national capital for another week, saying that the severity of COVID-19 was unabated and positivity rate has been as high as 36% in the last few days.

The lockdown imposed on April 19 night will now continue till 5 am on May 3, he said.

Strict restrictions on the movement of people were imposed across Kashmir as part of the administration's 34-hour 'corona curfew' amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, officials said on Sunday.

The restrictions that came into force on 8 pm on Saturday will remain till 6 AM on Monday in all the ten districts of the valley, the officials said. 

They said security forces put barricades on roads at many places in the city here as well as in other district headquarters of the valley to prevent the movement of the people.

However, essential and emergency services were being allowed to move, they added.

'Will Rapidly Deploy Additional Support to India'

The US will rapidly deploy additional support to India and its health care heroes amidst the horrific COVID-19 outbreak, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said.

Blinken's remarks came as pressure grew on the Biden administration to ship COVID-19 vaccines along with several life-saving medical supplies to India.

Earlier, defending US’ restrictions on the export of key raw materials for the manufacture of COVID-19 vaccine that threatens to slow India’s vaccination drive, a senior State Department official had said the Biden administration’s first obligation is to take care of the requirements of the American people.

State Department spokesperson Ned Price had said, "It is not only in the U.S. interest to see Americans vaccinated; but it is in the interests of the rest of the world to see Americans vaccinated."