New Delhi: Active coronavirus cases in India increased by 4,421 in the past 24 hours — a spike of 3% —to cross the 1.5 lakh mark for the first time in 17 days, the Union Health Ministry informed on Monday.
This was the steepest overall increase in active cases (the difference between new cases and recoveries) since end-November, the ministry informed.
This is the fifth consecutive day in which active cases have increased; 13,506 new cases have been added in this period.
The increase in active cases is also double the 1.5% recorded this time last week and a massive 2.9% bigger than two weeks ago, when active cases decreased by 157.
The total number of new cases reported per day have also increased — from a low of 9,121 on February 16 to 14,199 on Monday, with the seven-day moving average increasing by 13.8%.
The spike in national numbers comes as five states — Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh — report increased daily numbers.
The Centre has warned the five states that continued “adherence to COVID-appropriate behaviour” is critical to break the chain of transmission and contain the novel coronavirus, NDTV reported.
