India's Covid numbers back to September 2020 level; 89,129 new cases in 24 hours

The current Covid case growth rate of 6.8 per cent in March 2021 had surpassed the previous record of 5.5 per cent in June 2020. 

India has reported the most significant single-day spike in Covid-19 cases since late September last year, with 89,129 new cases of the disease and 714 related deaths being recorded in the last 24 hours.
 

The latest surge in cases takes India's overall tally to 12,392,260 and death toll to 164,110.
 

India's active caseload has also risen to 658,909.

On Friday, Cabinet Secretary Shri Rajiv Gauba reviewed the Covid situation officials of all states and Union territories.
 

The meeting focussed predominantly on 11 states and UTs reporting a significant increase in daily cases and mortality in the last two weeks.
 

During the meeting, the Cabinet Secretary noted that the current Covid case growth rate of 6.8 per cent in March 2021 had surpassed the previous record of 5.5 per cent in June 2020.

India also reported a 5.5 per cent growth rate in daily Covid-19 deaths in this period.
 

In September 2020, during the pandemic's peak, the country was reporting about 97,000 daily new cases. Today, the country has reached the critical figure of 81,000 daily new cases of COVID.
 

Besides calling for ramping up vaccination and strictly enforcing Covid-appropriate behaviour, the Centre has asked the states to use Rapid Antigen Tests as a screening test in densely-populated areas and where fresh clusters are emerging.

The Centre has also urged states to ensure that 25 to 30 close contacts are traced for each infected person and isolating them within 72 hours.
 

The Cabinet Secretary reiterated the need for meticulous and hard work regarding stringent enforcement of containment and surveillance measures.