India's COVID-19 cases cross 23,000 mark; death toll at 718 and 4749 recoveries so far

death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 718 and number of cases climbed to 23,077 in country on Friday, with 37 more deaths and 1,684 fresh cases being reported in past 24 hours, according to Union Health Ministry. number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 17,610 as 4,748 people were cured and discharged, and one patient migrated, ministry said.

Maharashtra worst-hit state across India

Of 686 deaths, Maharashtra tops tally with 283 fatalities, followed by Gujarat at 112, Madhya Pradesh at 83, Delhi at 50, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh at 27 each and Telengana at 24. death toll reached 24 in Uttar Pradesh, 20 in Tamil Nadu while Karnataka has reported 17 cases.

'Difficult to predict it'

Meanwhile,  Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Thursday said that growth curve of COVID-19 has been flattened but it is difficult to tell when it will reach its peak.

"It is very difficult to tell that peak in COVID-19 cases will arrive by May 3 or when it will come. But it is very stable. positivity rate has been 4.5% throughout, one can say we have been able to flatten curve. However, difficult to predict it (peak)," Dr Balram Bhargava, Director General, ICMR said in New Delhi while addressing a press conference.

AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria emphasised that it is important to t stigmatise those who have recovered from COVID-19, Guleria said, "This is a disease which is t that serious, 90-95% people recover, if we have that stigma and we don't come forward n we may land up in a situation where because of our delayed treatment we may have higher mortality."

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National lockdown

country is currently in second phase of nationwide lockdown anunced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 14 and will go on till May 3. In an address to nation on April 14, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "It is clearly evident from experience of past few days, that we have chosen correct path. Our country has greatly benefited from social distancing and lockdown. From an ecomic only point of view, it undoubtedly looks costly right w; but measured against lives of Indian citizens, re is comparison itself. path that India has taken within our limited resources has become a topic of discussion in entire world today."

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(With ncy inputs)