The nationwide tally of Covid-19 cases crossed one lakh on Monday with more people testing positive for the deadly virus in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and other states, even as a much-relaxed fourth phase of the lockdown began with restarting of market complexes, autos, taxis and inter-state buses in various parts of the country.
The death toll due to Covid-19 crossed the 3,000-mark too.
The nationwide count of confirmed infections incidentally crossed the crucial one-lakh mark on a day when the fourth phase of the nationwide lockdown kicked in with several relaxations for economic and public activities, barring in containment zones or areas identified as serious hotspots of the virus infection.
LOCKDOWN 4.0 BEGINS WITH MORE RELAXATIONS
With an aim to reboot numerous locked down economic activities, authorities across the country ordered reopening of markets, intra-state transport services and even of barbershops and salons in some states, barring in containment zones. However, schools, colleges, theatres, malls and religious gatherings are among those that would remain shut down, at least till May 31.
India has been under lockdown since March 25, which was first supposed to be for 21 days or toll April 14, but was later extended till May 3, then further till May 17 and now for another two weeks till May 31.
However, a number of relaxations have been given in the current fourth phase, while states and union territories have also been granted significant flexibility for deciding the red, orange or green zones in terms of the quantum and severity of the virus spread.
INDIA CROSSES 1-LAKH CASES
In its morning 8 AM update, the Union Health Ministry put the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases 96,169 and the death toll at 3,029. It also said that 36,824 people have so far recovered from the infection.
However, if we add the number of new cases that have been reported in major states today, the overall number of Covid-19 cases crosses the 1-lakh mark.
Maharashtra topped the nationwide tally with over 35,000 confirmed cases and 1,249 deaths, followed by Tamil Nadu with 11,760 confirmed cases and 81 deaths. Gujarat has also reported 11,746 confirmed cases, while its death toll is higher than that of Tamil Nadu at 694.
Delhi has also crossed the 10,000-mark in terms of the number of confirmed cases, while its death toll has now reached 160.
Gujarat, during the day, recorded 366 new Covid-19 cases and 35 deaths, including 31 from the worst-hit Ahmedabad, taking the state”s case count to 11,746 and the number of fatalities to 694, a health department official said.
Maharashtra reported 2,033 new cases, taking the tally to 35,058. This was the second consecutive day when the state has reported more than 2,000 Covid-19 cases.
Mumbai alone reported 1,185 fresh cases and 23 more deaths, taking the total count of the city to 21,152 and the fatalities to 757. Of the 1,185 new cases, 300 samples were tested positive in private laboratories between May 12 and 16.
Kerala also saw 29 new cases — all but one being returnees from overseas and other states — raising concerns about the state witnessing a possible third wave of the dreaded virus infection. The state was first to report the virus infection, but at least twice it has already been seen as having flattened the curve of the infection.
Later in the night, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana also reported new cases.
