India reported 275 coronavirus deaths on Wednesday, the highest number of deaths in a single day since Dec. 31, according to a CNN number from Indian Health Ministry figures.
The country also reported 47,262 new Covid-19 infections on Wednesday, the largest increase in a single day since Nov. 12, bringing the total to 11,734,058 cases, including 160,441 deaths.
This is when India marks a year since the first national blockade of Covid-19 was imposed in the country, forcing 1.3 billion people inside.
New rules: In view of the “new increase in cases in some parts of the country”, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) announced on Tuesday new Covid-19 control guidelines that will be in force until the end of April.
India reported more than 35,000 new cases daily for seven consecutive days, according to CNN figures from the Ministry of Health. This increase follows a “sustained decrease in the number of active cases, continuously for about 5 months”, according to the MHA order.
Some of the measures presented in Tuesday’s order included the rapid isolation of positive cases and the follow-up of patients’ contacts with positive Covid within 72 hours.
According to the Ministry of Health, on Tuesday, Maharashtra, Punjab, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu accounted for 81% of new cases reported in the last 24 hours. Parts of many of these states have imposed complete or partial blockages and night extinguishers to contain the spread of the virus.
India has distributed more than 50 million doses of vaccine since January 16, when it began vaccinating health workers and front-line employees, as well as those over 60 or over 45 with comorbidities. Anyone 45 years of age or older will be included in the launch from April 1, according to the Ministry of Health.