Corona Update: 2,59,242 cases and 4,209 deaths Recorded; Black fungus call to declare as epidemic

New Delhi: India recorded 4,209 COVID-19 related deaths on Wednesday, raising the total number of fatalities to 2,91,366. The Union Health Ministry confirmed 2,59,242 new infections across the country in the past 24 hours, meaning so far 2.60 crore people have contracted the disease. Of the total number of cases,30,22,889 remain active and 3,57,173 recuperated.

Maharashtra reported 29,911 new infections and 984 deaths on Thursday, which took its caseload to 54,97,448 and death toll to 85,355. 

After Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh have the highest number of infections. Tamil Nadu health bulletin recorded 35,579 fresh cases, while UP detected 6,681 new infections. Tamil Nadu’s neighbour Karnataka logged 28,869 fresh infections spiking the tally to 23,35,524; the mortalities of the state reached 23,854 after it cremated 548 individuals.  The National capital reported a drop in its positivity rate registering 3,321 new coronavirus cases on Thursday. 233 COVID-linked deaths were witnessed in the last 24 hours. 

As the Centre directed states to declare, Black Fungus infection an Epidemic, the shortage of emergency measures is raised to counter the surge. Odisha and Gujarat declared epidemics of Mucormycosis while the Delhi government plans to establish dedicated treatment centres for Black Fungus in three hospitals. 

20.61 lakh infected samples were tested by ICMR.  A seven-day rolling average of vaccinations in India showed an alarming decline for the seventh day on Thursday, as the Health Ministry registered only 11.66 lakh administrations.