May 1 mayhem: Record 2,333 cases in a day, over 1,000 in Maharashtra alone

NEW DELHI: The Covid-19 pandemic in India grew by the highest number yet on Friday when as many as 2,333 cases were detected across the country, led by an explosion of infections in Maharashtra, which reported a record 1,003 new cases in a single day with Mumbai alone registering 741.

The number of cases reported on Friday was 27% higher than the previous single-day peak of 1,840, recorded on Tuesday, and represented a 6.7% growth in infections in a day. The country now has recorded 37,200 Covid cases and 1,222 deaths, with the toll rising by 68 on Friday, according to reports from states.

Tamil Nadu too saw its highest rise in cases, with 203 added on Friday, while Gujarat (326) and Delhi (223) continued to report high numbers.

Maharashtra recorded the maximum 26 Covid-related deaths on Friday, taking its total toll to 485, followed by Gujarat (22), Madhya Pradesh (8) and Rajasthan (4). Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh recor