India records highest single-day jump, fresh cases in UP, Bengal, Tamil Nadu

The total number of COVID – 19  cases in India crossed 950 on Saturday with over 180 fresh cases being reported from different parts of the country. This is the highest single-day increase so far. The death toll rose to 21, according to Union Health Ministry data.

Deaths have so far been reported from Maharashtra, Kerala, Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Punjab, Delhi, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.

Meanwhile, India’s three-week countrywide lockdown may not be sufficient to prevent the resurgence of the pandemic that could bounce back and cause thousands of infections within months, a study by University of Cambridge researchers has suggested.

The study, being examined by the Indian Council of Medical Research in order to prepare future strategy to contain the outbreak, proposed three lockdowns, for 21-days, 28-days and 18-days, with relaxations of five days in between. The researchers said this would be more effective in slowing the spread and reducing the number of infections.

Europe is now the most affected continent with over 20,000 deaths from a total of 3 lakh plus cases. The COVID-19 disease has killed over 10,000 in Italy and over 5600 in Spain — the two hardest-hit countries in the world.