Record 2.34 lakh COVID-19 cases in 24 hours take India's active count to 16.79 lakh, total soars to 1.45 crore

File Photo (ANI)

New Delhi: Record 2.34 lakh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours took India's active count to 16.79 lakh, as per the Union Health Ministry on Saturday (April 17, 2021).

The country's total coronavirus caseload has now soared to 1.45 crore. According to the official data, there were 2,34,692 new COVID-19 cases, 1,23,354 recoveries and 1,341 deaths in the last 24 hours.

The total number of cases has risen to 1,45,26,609, of which, 1,26,71,220 are recoveries, 16,79,740 are active cases and 1,75,649 have succumbed to the virus. 

India's highest-ever single-day spike comes a day after it reported 2.17 lakh infections. The country, going through the second and the worst COVID-19 wave so far, recorded 2,17,353 new infections on Friday. 

The daily COVID-19 cases in India have doubled in the last 10 days. 

Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh have been one of the worst-hit states due to the recent wave. As of Friday, these were the only three states across the country that have more than one lakh active coronavirus cases. 

In the last two weeks, as of Friday, Chhattisgarh has seen an almost a 131% increase in weekly new cases. 22 districts in Chhattisgarh have crossed their reported highest cases in the last 30 days. 

Uttar Pradesh on the other side has also reported a growth rate of 19.25% in daily new cases. 46 districts in Uttar Pradesh have crossed their reported highest cases in the last 30 days.

This has also led the Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla along with Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan to chair high-level meetings to review the status of COVID-19 in these two states. 

Prohibiting unnecessary travel and crowing in public places through strict and effective enforcement was stressed.

This is to be noted that Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala cumulatively account for over 65% of India's total active cases.

Earlier on Friday, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan visited the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi to review their COVID-19 preparedness. Harsh Vardhan held a detailed review meeting on the availability of beds/oxygenated beds at the general/ICU wards with the heads of the various departments engaged in treating COVID and non-COVID medical conditions taking note of difficulties faced by them and their colleagues in carrying out their present duties.