India reports spike in COVID rate; 5,335 cases in last 24 hours

India saw one of the largest spike in COVID rates in the last few months as the nation's capital reported 509 fresh cases; the positivity rate of confirmed COVID-positive results per 100 tests has zoomed to 26 per cent from 15.64% a day before.

Delhi has witnessed an increase in the number of fresh COVID cases over the last few days
Delhi has witnessed an increase in the number of fresh COVID cases over the last few days. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@ani_digital

A total of 5,335 fresh COVID-19 infections were reported across the country in the last 24 hours, a significant jump from yesterday's tally of 4,435 cases, according to the Union health ministry data. It is the highest single-day rise in the last nearly six months, the ministry said.

The positivity rate is taken as an indicator of how fast the disease is spreading through the community.

With the new cases, the city's infection tally has increased to 20,12,064. Delhi has witnessed an increase in the number of fresh COVID cases over the last few days amid a sharp rise in the figure of H3N2 influenza cases in the country.

Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi said all civic-run hospitals are "fully prepared" to deal with the coronavirus situation and appealed to people not to panic.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued revised guidelines for Covid in the wake of the surge of cases in the past week across the country.

India's active COVID caseload currently stands at 25, 587 with a daily positivity rate of 3.38 per cent, the ministry said.