India's single day COVID cases cross 2.34 lakh, records 1,341 deaths

New Delhi: As per the reports by the Union Health Ministry, India records 2,34,692 new COVID-19 cases, 1,23,354 discharges and 1,341 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has announced a meeting today at 11:30 AM with health ministers of 11 states to discuss further actions to contain the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Swami Avdheshanand Giri of Juna Akhara, in a tweet today morning and appealed that mega Kumbh Mela "should now only be symbolic amid coronavirus crisis", as a mass gathering of pilgrims for the mela has raised concerns of the rapid surge in cases.

Maharashtra and Delhi continue to witness the highest-ever surge in infections in the last 24 hours. With 63,729 new infections, Maharashtra's caseload is over 37-lakh while Delhi has recorded over 8 lakh cases with 19,486 cases reported in the last 24 hours.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal will hold a review meeting today along with Nodal Minister for COVID19 management Manish Sisodia, Health Minister Satyendar Jain and other officials to analyse the Covid situation.

Reports of vaccine shortage from states continue to cause worry. Yesterday, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stressing that "vaccine stocks have completely run out" in the state.

According to the Health Ministry data, over 12 crore doses of vaccines have been administered so far in the country.

As India deals with the fast-growing second wave, reports of hospitals running out of oxygen supply and crematoriums are surfacing. The government has issued its third emergency order in 24 hours on Friday evening to ensure the uninterrupted supply of cylinders across state borders, and to allow manufacturers and suppliers to serve hospitals across India.

Across the world, there have now been over 139.6 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date. India's tally of confirmed cases stands at 1.35 crore.