PTI photo.
NEW DELHI: Led by a rush of cases in Kerala, the daily count of new Covid-19 infections in the country zoomed past 100 for the first time on Friday. As many as 120 fresh cases were reported from states, 39 from Kerala alone, taking the total number to 850 so far.
The previous highest single-day count of cases, as per confirmed reports received by TOI from states, was 99 on Monday (March 23).
Kerala’s Kasaragod hurtled towards a health crisis as 34 of the new cases were reported from the district, which has emerged as one of the top coronavirus hotspots in the country. Kerala also became the first state to report Covid-19 cases from each district.
The health ministry has confirmed 808 Covid-19 cases and said 67 patients have recovered. Delhi, meanwhile, reported one fresh case, taking the total to 40.
Bhilwara in Rajasthan, another coronavirus hotspot, confirmed its second death in two days, that of a 60-year-old who died late Thursday night. Neither of the two victims was a healthcare worker. The second Covid-19 death reported on Friday was from Tumukuru in Karnataka.
In Mumbai, an 85-year-old surgeon-cum-u