Mumbai lockdown. New cases in India top 750 in a day for 1st time, deaths up 31.

NEW DELHI: India’s Covid-19 count rose sharply on Thursday with states confirming 781 new cases – by far the highest single-day tally so far.

Maharashtra led the surge with 229 fresh cases — the first time state has reported more than 150 new cases — followed by Tamil Nadu (96), Rajasthan (80), Gujarat (76) and Delhi (51) in a single day.

As many as 31 deaths from Covid-19 were reported from across the country, taking the pandemic’s toll in India to 232.

The fresh cases in Delhi include three cancer patients who were admitted to Delhi State Cancer Institute in east Delhi and two healthcare workers from Sir Ganga Ram hospital.

At least 11 Covid-19 positive patients in Delhi are currently on ventilator support and 23 are on oxygen – which could signal impairment of lung function due to the infection.

The Covid-19 outbreak in Maharashtra continues to be worrisome. The state now accounts for 20% of all cases in India & more worryingly, over 40% of all coronavirus deaths. The state’s case fatality rate rose from 6.2% on Wednesday to 7.1% on Thursday, more than double that of India’s 2.9%.