Coronavirus: India’s COVID-19 tally reaches 3.66 lakh, 12,337 deaths

India on Thursday reported its highest ever single-day spike with 12,881 new cases and 334 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the latest update from the Union health ministry.  

New Delhi: The number of coronavirus cases in India reached 3,66,946 on Thursday after the country recorded 12,881 fresh cases in the last 24 hours, according to the latest update from the Union health ministry.

This is so far the biggest single-day surge in infections. The country reported 334 deaths in a single day taking the total number of fatalities to 12,237.

As many as 1,94,324 COVID-19 patients have been cured and discharged so far, the Union health ministry has said in its latest update. The reported active COVID-19 cases in India stand at 1,60,384.

The death toll surged after Delhi and Maharashtra took into account hundreds of fatalities that were pending review, officials have said.

The country had recorded its first fatality in March when the COVID-19 infection tally was a little over 70.

The first 5,000 fatalities took 80 days, the latest 5,000 deaths came in just 17 days, with more than 2,500 being reported in the last week.

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said as many as 62,49,668 samples have been tested till June 17. Of these, 1,65,412 samples were tested in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia was on Thursday given the additional charge of the health ministry and other departments allocated to Health Minister Satyendar Jain who tested positive.

Globally, the coronavirus has infected 83.28 lakh people so far, and killed 4,48,474, according to Johns Hopkins University.