NEW DELHI : Second Covid wave in the country is proving deadlier with over 1.31 new infections reported in past 24 hours, -the highest in India pandemic ever. There were 780 deaths were reported on Friday. This is the 4th straight day with daily cases staying above 1 lakh. Hospitalisations have been on steady rise for the 30th day now. There are 9.79,508 persons under treatment for the virus currently.
The increase to over 9 lakh patients from prior 3 lakh occurred in matter of just 18 days. During the first wave, a three-time rise on average took 59 days. The virus spread will be severe between 15 and 20th of this month, the scientists at IIT Kanpur forecast. The surge will climax in mid-April before starting to decline towards end of May.
More than half of record-count in past 24 hours pertain to Maharashtra - 56,286. Others : Chhattisgarh - 10,652, Uttar Pradesh - 8474, Delhi - 7437, Karnataka - 6570, Madhya Pradesh - 4324, Tamil Nadu - 4276, Gujarat 4021, Rajasthan - 3526.
Meanwhile : Delhi govt ordered closure for all schools. 32 health workers at AIIMS including 20 doctors tested positive for covid. Elsewhere at Gangaram Hospital, 37 doctors were down with the virus.
The spread is particularly alarming in Chhattisgarh where 55,512 cases have been reported in a month and more than 500 deaths.
Odisha has fixed Rs 2000 in fine for those who may be spotted without masks outside. A repeat offence will attract penalty of Rs 5000.
The one-week school closure in Bihar has been extended to another one week.
Covid numbers in Bengal rose four times in one month time.
Educational institutions in Himachal Pradesh are closed up to 21st .
