Coronavirus in India: West Bengal reports 14,281 new Covid-19 cases, highest one-day spike

A record single-day rise of 3,46,786 coronavirus cases pushed India's tally of infection to 1,66,10,481, while active cases crossed the 25-lakh mark, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Saturday. With a steady increase, active cases in the country reached 25,52,940 and comprise 15.37 per cent of the total infections.

Ten states, including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, reported 74.15 per cent of the new Covid-19 cases reported in a day, the Union health ministry said on Saturday. It also said 12 states are displaying an upward trajectory in daily cases. These are Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Bihar and West Bengal. A record single-day rise of 3,46,786 coronavirus cases pushed India's tally of infection to 1,66,10,481, while active cases crossed the 25-lakh mark, according to the ministry's data updated on Saturday.

The Centre on Saturday decided to waive basic customs duty on Covid vaccines, oxygen and oxygen-related equipment for three months to boost availability amid the worsening coronavirus crisis in India. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on measures to increase oxygen supply.

Neelkanth Hospital managing director had earlier in the day said that five patients died at the hospital facing." We are facing an oxygen shortage for the last 48 hours. The administration is saying that oxygen will not be given to private hospitals before government hospitals," the MD said.