With as many as 85,215 coronavirus cases being registered across the country, India now stands 11th in the world in terms of the number of COVID-19 patients. India has registered as many as 3,967 cases in the past 24 hours to touch 85,215, crossing the tally of China.
According to latest reports, China has nearly 83,000 coronavirus cases. Nonetheless, at 3.2 per cent, India's mortality rate is better than that of China—5.5 per cent. China has recorded 4,633 deaths so far while India's death tally remains at 2,649, say media reports.
Maharashtra neared the 30,000-mark on Friday, with the state recording as many as 1,576 new cases in the past 24 hours. The state now has as many as 29,100 COVID-19 patients. Tamil Nadu has crossed 10,000-mark, followed by Gujarat which has recorded as many as 9,932 cases.
Meanwhile, the Union government, on Friday, pointed out that nearly 80 per cent of country's COVID-19 cases are in 30 municipal areas and asked the states to take steps to reduce fatality rates. The government has also directed the states to ensure timely detection of the disease and contact tracing to contain the spread of the disease.
As India is set to enter the fourth phase of lockdown on Monday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday held several meetings with his ministry's officials ahead of the announcement of guidelines. Shah, who was in his North Block office for nearly five hours, held meetings with top officials of the ministry, including Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla.
Senior officials have been busy in finalising the guidelines for the fourth-phase of the lockdown.
Officials said greater relaxations and flexibility will be seen in the fourth phase with gradual reopening of railways and domestic airlines, while powers will the given to states and union territories to define COVID-19 hotspots.
(With PTI inputs)
