NEW DELHI:
Facing the worst wave of pandemic yet, India reported more than 1,03,558 cases new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, informed the Union Health Ministry on Monday.

With this, India entered the list of countries, along with the US, to report more than 1 lakh cases in a day. With these additional cases, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country has reached 1,25,89,067.

With 478 new deaths, the death toll in India has gone up to 1,65,101. There are 7,41,830 active cases in the nation as of now. Furthermore, 52,847 people were discharged after recovery on Saturday, taking the nationwide recovery tally to 1,16,82,136.

Eight states including Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab have shown a steep rise in daily COVID-19 cases, accounting for 81.90 per cent of the 1,03,558 new cases reported in a span of 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday.

Maharashtra has reported the highest daily new cases at 57,074 (55.11 per cent). It is followed by Chhattisgarh with 5,250 while Karnataka reported 4,553 new cases, it said. India's total active caseload has reached 7,41,830 and now comprises 5.89 per cent of the country's total infections, the data stated.

A net increase of 50,233 cases has been recorded in the total active caseload in a span of 24 hours.

Maharashtra, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Kerala and Punjab cumulatively account for 75.88 per cent of the total active cases in the country. Maharashtra alone accounts for nearly 58.23 per cent of the total active caseload of the country, the ministry said.

Twelve states — Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Karnataka, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala are displaying an upward trajectory in daily new cases, the ministry said. Fifteen states and UTs have lower tests per million population than the national average of 1,80,449, the ministry stated.

Maharashtra reported 57,074 new COVID-19 cases, 27,508 recoveries, 222 deaths on Sunday, as per the State Health Department. The total active cases in the state rose to 30,10,597. The death toll mounted to 55,878 including the new deaths.Mumbai reported 11,163 new COVID-19 cases and 25 deaths on Sunday. In order to control the new infections, the State government has imposed Section 144 of CrPC between 7 am and 8 pm, banning the gathering of more than five people at a place.

As per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 8,93,749 samples were tested on Sunday. A total of 24,90,19,657 samples have been tested so far. Meanwhile, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, a total of 7,91,05,163 people have been vaccinated across the country till now.

From April 2, the government started vaccinating all people above 45 years. India started its vaccination drive on January 16 with priority given to all healthcare and frontline workers in the first phase. The second phase started on March 1 where doses were administered to people above the age of 60 and those between 45 and 59 years with specific comorbidities.