India's COVID-19 count today crossed 14,000-mark. Over 900 people tested positive for novel coronavirus in last 24 hours, taking the total coronavirus cases in the country to 14,378. As many as 480 people succumbed to death since the outbreak came into light.
At present, there are 11,906 active coronavirus patients in the country. At least 1,991 people have recovered from the disease, according to ministry of health and welfare.
Maharashtra remained the worst affected state with more than 3,000 cases. Mumbai, the financial capital of India, accounted for over 1,000 COVID-19 cases. Death toll in the state increased to 201. The state recorded highest number coronavirus casualty in the country.
Delhi was also severely battered by coronavirus pandemic. At least 1,707 people confirmed positive for COVID-19 in the national capital. Tamil Nadu reported third highest cases in the country with 1,323 COVID-19 patients.
Twenty-eight deaths have been reported since Friday evening — 12 from Madhya Pradesh, seven from Maharashtra, four from Delhi, three from Gujarat, one each from Jammu and Kashmir and Bihar. The fatalities due to COVID-19 infection reached 69 in Madhya Pradesh, 42 in Delhi, 41 in Gujarat and 18 at Telengana.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak in the country, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) asked all the states to use rapid antibody tests for surveillance in COVID-19 hotspots. India received five lakh rapid antibody testing kits from China on Thursday, according to health ministry officials.
Dr Raman R Gangakhedkar, chief of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases at ICMR, said that the rapid antibody test kits procured were not meant for early diagnosis, but "only for surveillance and trend checking".
"We are also working on viral sequencing and vaccine development. India is working with global partners so that effective vaccines can be developed to fight against COVID-19. It is a time-consuming effort," said Lav Aggarwal, joint secretary, health ministry.
Here is the total coronavirus cases in India, state-wise:
Andaman and Nicobar Islands - 12
COVID-19 has infected more than 2.24 million people and killed at least 153,000 worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University. Coronavirus cases has increased to over 700,000 in the US, highest in the world. On Friday, 29,131 new cases were reported in the country. At least 36,822 people have been killed by the virus in the US.
