Coronavirus outbreak: With 57 new cases, steepest rise in 1 day

NEW DELHI: India saw a big spike in Covid-19 infections with 57 new cases being reported by state authorities and 50 by the health ministry on Friday — by far the highest in a single day — as several parts of the country began to feel the impact of the outbreak.

Curfew was clamped in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara town, several localities in Madhya Pradesh and Kerala put under lockdown and prohibitary orders extended to more areas.

So far, 255 cases have been reported in the country, around 44% of which (111) have come in the last three days. The health ministry confirmed 223 cases. Madhya Pradesh became the 21st state/UT to report the coronavirus infection, with four cases surfacing in Jabalpur, prompting authorities to order a lockdown in two localities.

The government acknowledged the surge, with joint secretary (health) Lav Aggarwal on Friday saying cases had increased “progressively“ and social distancing was, therefore, important to stop this chain of transmission. So far, the Centre had maintained that the outbreak was limited to persons with travel history and their contacts.

“All states have been asked to use all legal