Maharashtra reported a rise of nearly 40% in a day, with 5,368 new cases posted on Thursday. Of these, 3,555 were from Mumbai, which saw numbers spike by 45% since Wednesday. Mumbai’s daily cases have zoomed to the highest since May 5 this year.

The surge in Bengal was even sharper. Covid cases in the state nearly doubled in a day, rising from 1,089 on Wednesday to 2,128, with Kolkata’s tally increasing 102%, from 540 to 1,090. Delhi reported 1,313 fresh cases, up from 923 on Wednesday.

While Kerala recorded 2,423 cases, the second highest count after Maharashtra, the pandemic continued to wane in the state as this week’s numbers have been lower than those in the corresponding days of last week.

The numbers, however, are rising in Kerala’s neighbouring states. Tamil Nadu logged 890 fresh cases, the highest in the state since November 4. At 707, Karnataka posted its highest single-day increase since September 26.

Other states where Covid numbers have jumped sharply since Wednesday include Rajasthan (up 92%), Bihar (71%), Punjab (67%), Uttar Pradesh (64%), Goa (54%), Madhya Pradesh (50%), Chhattisgarh (42%), Jharkhand (40%) and Haryana (38%). In all these states, daily cases are still below 500. The highest count among these states was in Jharkhand, which reported 482 new cases on Thursday.

Deaths, at 73, remained below 100 for the seventh day running. The overall toll, however, rose by 222 on account of old deaths being added to the total.

(With inputs from agencies)