India has recorded the highest single-day spike in coronavirus cases since the pandemic started.

On Saturday, the country has reported more than 1.45 lakh new coronavirus cases, in a single day. While night curfew, restrictions in several states, cities have been imposed to curb COVID surge in India

With a surge of 1,45,384 cases, India’s active COVID-19 cases have reached 10,46,631 and the total COVID-19 tally has climbed to 1,32,05,926.

According to the data shared by the Health Ministry on Saturday morning, India reported 794 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the total death toll from the pandemic to 1,68,436.

On the other hand, 9,80,75,160 people have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in India so far.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, India’s worst coronavirus-hit state of Maharashtra went into a weekend lockdown as the country battles exploding infection numbers and vaccine shortages.

The fresh fatalities reported include 301 from Maharashtra, 91 from Chhattisgarh, 56 from Punjab, 46 from Karnataka, 42 from Gujarat, 39 from Delhi, 36 from Uttar Pradesh, 32 from Rajasthan, 23 each from Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, 22 from Kerala, 17 from Jharkhand and 11 each from Andhra Pradesh and Haryana.

New Zealand suspends travel from India

Amid the surging cases of COVID-19, New Zealand earlier this week announced that it was suspending the entry of travellers from India, including its own citizens.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in a news conference in Wellington on Thursday announced that the suspension will take effect from April 11 and will be in place till April 28.

As reported by Reuters, the move comes after New Zealand recorded 23 new positive coronavirus cases at its border on Thursday, of which 17 were from India.

Addressing a virtual meeting with the chief ministers of the Congress-ruled states and ministers of the party in states, she said the priority should be to test, track, and vaccinated.