India witnesses steepest increase in Covid-19 cases since November

India today recorded the steepest increase in coronavirus cases since November '20 after recording an increased number of active cases for five consecutive days. In the last 24 hours, active coronavirus cases, calculated as the difference between new cases and recoveries, increased by 4,421. Last week, the increase in active cases was 1.5 per cent.

The total number of new cases recorded every day has also increased drastically with increased numbers from specifically five states- Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. The total number of cases reported today hit 14,199 from 9,121 on February 16.

In worst-affected Maharashtra, the seven-day moving average of new cases was 5,230, while in Kerala, the second most-affected, it was 4,361 this morning.

"Over 74 per cent of active cases are in Kerala and Maharashtra... there has also been a spike in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh... Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir are also witnessing a surge in daily new cases," the Health Ministry said Sunday.

Meanwhile, around 240 new strains of the virus have emerged in the country. In the wake of the situation, authorities have warned against a lack of caution for social distancing and masks.