Covid-19 cases in India cross 50,000 after doubling in 11 days

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced on Thursday that the total number of coronavirus cases in India has risen to 52,952 after doubling in 11 days.

Covid-19 cases continue to rise across most states with the official figure of the overall cases crossing 50,000-mark. In a setback to the country’s battle against the virus, the doubling rate of infection decreased to 11 days with a spurt in coronavirus patients.  

As per the Union Health Ministry’s latest update on Thursday morning, India had 52,592 cases of the disease out of which 15,267 have been cured and discharged and 1,783 have died.

A large number of healthcare professionals have increasingly tested positive for the virus and authorities have flagged a high mortality rate in states like West Bengal, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Maharashtra has consistently been the worst-affected state where Mumbai and Pune account for almost 90% of the deadly pathogen. Positive Covid-19 cases in India’s richest state now stand at 16,758 and fatalities at 651, as per latest figures from the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

It is followed by Gujarat where cases spiked to 6625 with 396 reported deaths. Delhi with 5532 positive cases and 65 deaths, Tamil Nadu (4,829 cases, 35 deaths), Madhya Pradesh (3138, 185 deaths), are other states most-affected in the viral outbreak.

The Centre has once again extended the nationwide lockdown for two weeks beyond its slated deadline on May 3 albeit with significant relaxations. The Health Ministry has lauded the high recovery rate, at 25%, of Covid-19 patients in India but the fact that the virus continues to spread has been a major cause of concern for the authorities.