Coronavirus in India: 227 new positive cases nationwide

The coronavirus crisis appeared to escalate on Monday as the India government reported 227 cases over the last 24 hours, the largest spike in a day.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare late on Monday night said the total number of coronavirus-positive cases in India has risen to 1,251 — this includes 1,117 active cases, 102 cured/discharged/migrated people, and 32 deaths.

However, the government maintained it was still in the local transmission stage. The Supreme Court, meanwhile, cautioned that fear and panic are becoming a bigger problem than the coronavirus.

The government also said there was no immediate plan to extend the 21-day lockdown period, which entered its sixth day on Monday, while the Indian Army dismissed as "fake" social media posts about a possible emergency declaration next month.

In its latest update, the Health Ministry said the death toll due to COVID-19 has risen to 32 and the number of total positive cases to 1,251, up from 1,024 positive cases and 27 deaths as of Sunday evening.

At 227, this is the largest one-day increase in the number of cases for India. At least 25 fresh cases were reported from Delhi alone, taking the national capital's tally to 97, as per the Delhi Health Department.

Interacting with organisations involved in social work via video conferencing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked them to counter misinformation and superstition on coronavirus as he observed that people have been flouting social distancing norms in the name of belief.


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