India recorded 3.49 lakh fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the caseload to 1.69 crore.
However, the country recorded the highest-ever single-day spike in COVID-19 related deaths with 2,767 fatalities, taking the count to over 192,311. This is the fourth straight day that the country has reported over 3 lakh cases and over 2,000 deaths.
India is now the second worst-hit country. The active cases in the country are now over the 26-lakh mark. Since 15 April, the country has been recording more than 2 lakh cases every day.
Across the country, the situation remains grim as over the past week, due to the unavailability of medical oxygen in hospitals many COVID-19 patients died.
Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal extended the lockdown in the national capital Delhi for another week till 3 May. The surge in cases has forced many states and Union Territories to impose lockdowns and night curfews in order to curb the spread of the virus. The United States remains the worst-hit country followed by India, Brazil, France and Russia.