Masks and fine back in Delhi, daily cases top 2,000

The number of coronavirus cases in India are increasing after several states relaxed Covid-19 curbs, including the mask mandate, in March. However, with authorities fearing a resurgence of the infection, both the centre and state governments are raising their shields again.

The union government on Tuesday advised five states Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana and Mizoram, which are reporting a slight surge in Covid-19 cases to monitor the spread and take prompt steps.

The centre also stressed on the need to maintain 'an effective watch and pre-emptive action to contain any imminent surge' in a letter to Kerala, which, it said, was not reporting state-level data regularly.

Single-day spike of over 2,000 cases in India

For the second time this week, India's daily cases crossed the 2,000-mark. In the last 24 hours, India logged 2,067 fresh infections - 66 per cent higher than the previous day. 40 new Covid-linked deaths were also reported.

The national daily positivity rate doubled in eight days and rose to 0.44 per cent on Wednesday. The positivity rate stood at 0.21 per cent on April 12. The weekly positivity rate on Wednesday was recorded at 0.38 per cent, according to the health ministry.

Though the increase is still less than in other nations hit by an omicron varint-led surge, experts say that we must not let our guards down and continue to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour.

Maharashtra logged 127 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking its cumulative tally to 7,876,041, the latest health department bulletin showed.

Also, there were fresh fatalities after three days, with as many as three people succumbing to the viral illness, pushing the overall toll to 147,830, according to the bulletin.

In what could be a matter of concern for the health department and parents, 33 children among 107 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar district yesterday, news agency PTI reported. The district, adjoining Delhi, had reported 65 new cases, including 19 children, on Monday.

The government's decision on mix and match of the Covid-19 booster is expected to come in the next two weeks, sources familiar with the development said.