NEW DELHI, June 5:
The nationwide count of confirmed COVID-19 cases rose to 2.28 lakh today and the death toll crossed 6,500, while the number of States with four-digit or bigger tallies has doubled since May 1 when migrant movements began in special trains from big urban clusters to their villages. Some of these states have seen their tallies rising more than 10-fold.
This was followed by special international flights, beginning May 7, to bring back Indians stranded abroad and expatriates from different countries, which have also been attributed by some states for their rising tallies.
Domestic flights also resumed in a phased manner on May 25, the day which also marked the start of the fourth phase of the lockdown with significant relaxations after almost two months of a near-complete shutdown of various economic activities. A phased unlocking exercise is now in its first week.
The total number of confirmed cases across the country stood at nearly 35,000 on the morning of May 1 and the death toll was less than 1,150, showed the 8 am update of the Union Health Ministry on that day.
In its latest update this morning, the Ministry said the number of confirmed cases has risen to 2,26,770 and the death toll has grown to 6,348 now — marking nearly six-fold jump in the case count and an over five-fold surge in the number of fatalities since May 1.
A PTI tally of figures announced by different states and Union Territories, as of 9.15 pm, showed the number of confirmed cases having risen further to 2,28,038 and the death toll to 6,557. This marked a record increase of more than 10,600 cases in the last 24 hours and a spike of 334 fatalities.
The count of recoveries has also risen to over 1.12 lakh, still leaving close to 1.10 lakh active cases across the country. The cases have been rising sharply, by 8,000 or more, for several days now.
The tally showed that at least 19 Dtates now have their tallies of confirmed cases in four or more digits, as against just nine on May 1. Also, three states now have five-digit tallies, as against only Maharashtra in that category on May 1. (PTI)
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