India today added 40,953 new coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours - highest daily-rise since November 29 - amid a worrying surge across the country.
Today's surge is nearly four per cent higher than the daily spike in cases recorded yesterday morning when 39,726 new cases were added. The country has been recording more than 20,000 cases since last week.
In the 24-hour period, India reported 188 deaths linked to the virus taking the total number of fatalities to 1,59,558. Maharashtra, Punjab, Kerala, Karnataka and Gujarat are the five states that have recorded the highest single-day surge since yesterday, government data shows.
India is witnessing surge in Covid cases amid a countrywide vaccination drive through which over four crore people have been administered anti-Covid vaccine jabs so far.
The sudden surge in cases had prompted some states to consider the return of school closures, restrictions on public gatherings and other virus-fighting measures, including lockdown in their worst-hit districts.
Overall, India has now recorded 1.15 crore (1,15,55,284) cases since the outbreak a year ago, according to the government data updated today.