Even as the nationwide lockdown continues to be imposed, India has officially surpassed Brazil in the total number of Covid-19 cases to become the second worst affected country in the world following the USA.

India recorded a total of 90,802 new cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours, making it the highest single-day spike in the country ever and also the highest number of new cases of the virus recorded anywhere in the world, yet again. Currently, there are 8,82,542 active cases of the infection in the country which comprises 20.99 percent of the total caseload. The total number of coronavirus cases mounted to 42,04,613 after yesterday's report while the death toll climbed to 71,642 with 1,016 fatalities being reported in a span of 24 hours. Despite the growing number of cases, the central government has relaxed the lockdown norms in an attempt to resuscitate the economy. Maharashtra is the worst affected state in the nation followed by Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Maharashtra has registered 8,83,862 cases of the infection so far, while Andhra Pradesh reported 4,87,331 cases, 4,57,697 cases in Tamil Nadu, 3,89,232 cases in Karnataka, and 2,59,765 cases in Uttar Pradesh have been reported.

According to the health ministry, these five states are contributing 62 percent of the total cases with Maharashtra accounting for 21.6 percent of the cases, followed by Andhra Pradesh with 11.8 percent, Tamil Nadu 11 percent, Karnataka 9.5 percent and Uttar Pradesh 6.3 percent. "These five states combined presently contribute 62 percent of total active cases. On a continuous upward trajectory, India's total recovered cases have crossed 32.5 lakh today, with 69,564 patients being discharged in the last 24 hours. This has resulted in the recovery rate touching 77.31 percent," the ministry reportedly stated. Adding that strict and proper isolation in homes and Covid facilities have contributed to the huge recovery rate in the country, the ministry further added, "Better ambulance services and seamless point-to-point management of patients to facilitate their timely hospitalisation before their health deteriorates has led to a high number of Covid-19 patients recovering and being discharged from the hospitals."