India sees 1.15 lakh Covid-19 cases; mask must even if driving alone, rules Delhi HC | 10 points

Top 10 developments regarding India's Covid-19 situation:

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  India recorded the highest single-day spike of 1,15,736 Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, taking the active caseload to 8,43,473. India on Sunday registered 1,03,558 cases in a span of 24 hours. The country reported 630 Covid-linked deaths in a span of 24 hours, taking the overall toll to 1,66,177.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday urged people to focus on fighting Covid-19 by taking all precautions, including wearing a mask, regularly washing hands and following other protocols. "On #WorldHealthDay, let us keep the focus on fighting COVID-19 by taking all possible precautions including wearing a mask, regularly washing hands and following the other protocols," he said in a series of tweets.

• Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has said that one of the major reasons for the surge in cases was people becoming lax towards following Covid-appropriate behaviour. He said 11 states -- Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab and Rajasthan -- together contributed 54 per cent of the total cases and 65 per cent of the total deaths in the country.

• The Centre cautioned that the next four weeks were "very critical" and sought people's participation to control the second wave of the pandemic. Addressing a press conference, NITI Aayog Member (Health) Dr V K Paul said, "The intensity of the pandemic has increased, and it is spreading faster than last time. In some states, it (the condition) is worse than others but the upswing (in cases) can be observed across the country."

• Amid growing calls from experts and Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Delhi to open up the Covid-19 vaccination drive to all age groups, the Centre said the aim was to protect those who are most vulnerable. "The aim is never to administer the vaccine to those who want it but to those who need it," said Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan.

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  Delhi joined a growing number of states to impose night curfew in view of the surge in coronavirus infections. The national capital recorded 5,100 fresh cases on Tuesday, the highest this year. The curfew from 10 pm to 5 am will be in force with immediate effect till April 30.

• The Gujarat government has announced a curfew from 8 pm to 6 am in 20 cities in the state, which will come into force from Wednesday and continue till April 30. On Tuesday, the Gujarat High Court observed that the Covid-19 situation in the state was getting "out of control".

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• The cumulative number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 8.70 crore, the Union Health Ministry said. On April 6, more than 39 lakh doses were given, taking the total doses given in the country so far to 8,70,77,474.

• The Delhi High Court has ruled that wearing a mask while driving alone in a private vehicle was mandatory amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The court said a mask was like a "suraksha kavach" (protective shield).

• Maharashtra reported 55,469 Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, while Chhattisgarh scaled a new peak of 9,921 cases. Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi reported more than 5,000 cases each. According to the latest Covid-19 bulletin, Maharashtra recorded 297 Covid-19 deaths on Tuesday. With this, the state's Covid-19 toll has risen to 56,330 and its case fatality rate is 1.81 per cent.