COVID 19: Cases cross 21k mark, deaths 681, 4257 cured

New Delhi:The Novel Coronavirus cases in the country crossed the 21,000  mark on Thursday morning, with number of cases climbing to 21,393 as per the government data.Death toll mounted to 681 with the addition of 29 fresh deaths reported since  Wednesday evening, the Health ministry said.

Across the nation, the maximum cases and casualties have been reported in the state of Maharashtra with 5652 cases and 269 deaths reported so far.With an  improvement, the number of cured and discharged cases of COVID-19 have increased to 4257 pan India, the Health ministry data said.

Active COVID cases in the country at present stand at 16,454 while government had said that the doubling rate of COVID has slowed in the country, referring to the data collected on April 19.

There has been a rapid rise in Gujarat, wherein the cases have jumped to 2407 on Thursday morning, with the state standing at number two in terms of maximum cases and also deaths that were now 103, after the worst-hit Maharashtra.Delhi is now housing 2248 cases with 48 deaths reported so far, while in Madhya Pradesh, the numbers stand at 1592 cases with 80 deaths so far.

There is a spike in the cases in Rajasthan as well where the number has increased to 1890 with 27 deaths while Tamil Nadu now houses 1629 cases and 18 casualties, whereas  in Uttar Pradesh, the number has gone up to 1449 with 21 deaths.

Meanwhile, union home ministry has directed  all the  States and Union Territories to ensure adequate security to healthcare professionals, medical staff & frontline workers, to prevent any violence against them.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday  approved Rs 15,000 crore for 'India COVID-19  Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package,' to be utilised in three Phases, and  for immediate COVID-19 Emergency Response, an amount of Rs 7,774 crore has been provisioned, and  rest for medium-term support (1-4 years).(UNI)