Maharashtra registers 23,179 new coronavirus cases, 84 deaths in last 24 hours

During the last 24 hours, the state, which is the worst-hit since the pandemic stuck in India, reported 84 deaths. Eight deaths were reported on Wednesday itself.

Maharashtra alone accounts for 61.8% of the daily new cases with 17,864 cases, the Union Health Ministry declared earlier in the evening.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi held a virtual meeting with Chief Ministers over the rising cases of coronavirus and said quick action was needed to contain the surge, as the country's infections tally hit 1.14 crore.

"We need to soon stop the emerging second peak of corona," he said during the meeting, urging the CMs to increase testing and strictly monitor mask-wearing. "We need to take quick, decisive steps."

"In recent weeks, some 70 districts have witnessed a more than 150 per cent increase in the number of cases and if we do not stop the pandemic right now, it could lead to a nationwide outbreak," the PM said.

India witnessed the highest daily spike of Covid-19 cases in recent times as the country recorded 28,903 fresh infections between Tuesday and Wednesday morning.

During the same period, 188 deaths have been recorded.

India’s total active caseload stands at 2.34 lakh (2,34,406) as of Wednesday evening, comprising 2.05% of the total cases.