India records highest single-day Covid-19 toll with 4,205 deaths

The Covid-19 toll has now crossed the 2.5-lakh mark.

In 24 hours between Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, the country recorded 3,48,421 fresh infections taking the overall tally to 2,33,40,938.

The active Covid-19 cases in the country are now 37,04,099.

As many as 3,55,338 people were discharged in the same period. The total number of coronavirus cases in the country has reached 2,33,40,938, out of which, 37,04,099 are active cases, 2,54,197 people have lost their lives while 1,93,82,642 have recovered.

Maharashtra reported about 41,000 cases, much lower than its average in the last few weeks. Karnataka, Kerala continue to report around 40,000 cases each. Of the 4,205 deaths reported on Tuesday, the highest ever, Maharashtra reported more than 800 deaths. Six states – Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, apart from Maharashtra – reporting more than 200 deaths a day.

In the last 24 hours, 19,83,804 samples were tested, the most in a day since the pandemic broke. Per government data, 24,46,674 vaccine doses were administered in a new record since India began the world's largest vaccine drive on January 16.

The data on Tuesday said to hit hard by the second wave, nearly 90 per cent of the country is witnessing a high positivity rate, stressing that 640 districts out of the 734 are above the national threshold level of five per cent.

Mucormycosis, a rare but serious fungal infection now affecting coronavirus patients. The first cases were reported in Gujarat last year, moving on to Delhi and Maharashtra.

Meanwhile, WHO has warned against the use of 'ivermectin' - an orally-administered drug used to treat parasitic infections - for treatment of COVID-19 patients. Earlier this week, Goa approved the use of 'ivermectin' as a preventive treatment for all adults against the SARS-CoV2 virus that causes the COVID-19 disease.

Worldwide, 15.96 crore infections have been reported since the pandemic broke.