India on April 4 detected over one lakh COVID-19 cases, the highest daily increase recorded in the country since the beginning of the pandemic.

The previous high of 97,894 cases was achieved on September 16, 2020, after which India’s cases started sliding.

Of the 103,558 cases, over 57,700 infections were reported from Maharashtra.

It may be mentioned here that the Maharashtra government has issued a slew of new restrictions, including night curfews, weekend lockdowns and daytime prohibitions, to control the spread of the disease.

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Named Break the Chain, the curbs come into force from 8 pm on April 5 till April 30.

Pune and Mumbai, the two worst cities in the state, detected 12,472 and 11,206 cases, respectively, on April 4.

Meanwhile, Delhi, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh reported more than 4,000 cases each on the same day, while Chhattisgarh registered over 5,000 cases for a second day.

There are now more than 7.4 lakh active cases in the country. Of the 478 deaths counted on Sunday, 222 were from Maharashtra.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level review meeting on April 4 and ordered officials to send teams of experts to Maharashtra, Punjab and Chhattisgarh.

It may be mentioned here that these three states are worst-hit in terms of mortality over the last two weeks.

PM Modi reiterated the need for strict implementation of the five-fold strategy: testing, tracing, treatment, COVID-appropriate behaviour and vaccination.

It may be mentioned here that Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in an interview with The Lallantop TV on April 3 said that people in Assam doesn't require to wear masks as there are "no coronavirus cases" in the state.

He further said that the state is all set to celebrate Bihu with great fanfare.

The statement, however, has been criticised by several sections of the society including the opposition.

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