India recorded 62,258 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, the biggest single-day jump October 16, taking the total Covid caseload to over 1.19 crore. The number of fresh infections is 5.3 per cent higher than yesterday's. 291 deaths in the last 24 hours have pushed the total death count to 1,61,240. India, which reported its first case on January 30 last year, is the third worst-hit country in the world by the pandemic after the United States and Brazil.
Maharashtra will enforce a night curfew from Sunday, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's office said, as the state struggles with its biggest surge in coronavirus infections since the beginning of the pandemic. Shopping malls will be closed from 8 pm to 7 am, the order said.
Mr Thackeray warned of stricter restrictions if the people did not follow COVID-19 safety rules. He said that district chiefs will decide when to order lockdowns but said that there will not be any sudden state-wide lockdown and the public will be given advance notice.
"I do not wish to impose lockdown. But there seems a possibility of healthcare facilities falling short given the rise in number of coronavirus patients," Mr Thackeray was quoted as saying in a statement released by his office.
He asked officials to ensure availability of adequate hospital beds and medicines, the statement said.
Maharashtra recorded 36,902 coronavirus infections on Friday, the highest one-day rise since the pandemic began, along with 112 deaths. The state has added over 1.3 lakh cases in five days. Mumbai also surpassed it's record of 5,504 cases from yesterday with 5,513 new infections and nine deaths.
