India reported 53,480 new cases of Covid-19 on Tuesday, taking the total tally of infections to 1,21,49,335, according to data from the Union Health Ministry.

354 deaths were reported on Tuesday, the highest since December 16, out of which 140 were reported from Maharashtra. The overall death toll stood at 1,62,468. Death count in Karnataka (21) is the highest since December 9. Other states — Punjab (64), Chhattisgarh (35) and Tamil Nadu (16), Madhya Pradesh (10), Uttar Pradesh (10) — also reported more than the usual number of deaths.

Maharashtra reported 27,918 cases, a significant drop from the peak of 40,000 on Sunday, possibly because of lower testing. There are now more than 5.52 lakh active cases in the country while over 1,14,34,301 people have recovered from the disease.

With several parts of the country reporting a second wave of Covid-19 cases, the Centre Tuesday warned that the situation is going from “bad to worse” and urged states to achieve 100 per cent vaccination coverage of those above the age of 45 years in surge districts within the next two weeks.

The Government will roll out the third phase of its vaccination drive from April 1 to cover all those above the age of 45. On Saturday, during a meeting with 46 districts that reported 70 per cent of the total cases over the last month, the Centre conveyed that 90 per cent of Covid-linked deaths in the country continue to be in the category of those aged above 45.

BDST: 1245 HRS, MAR 31, 2021
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