COVID-19 nationwide tally nears 55,000 with over 5k new cases; Urban clusters report rising numbers

The nationwide tally of COVID-19 cases neared 55,000 on Thursday with several urban centres including Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Chennai reporting rising numbers of people having tested positive for the deadly virus infection, while the count of those who have recovered also crossed 15,000.

More than 5,000 new cases have been detected across the country since Wednesday morning, figures announced by different states and union territories showed. The nationwide death toll also rose to 1,783, while fatalities were also reported from paramilitary forces.

A 55-year-old CISF head constable posted at the Mumbai international airport has succumbed to the novel coronavirus, while two BSF personnel have also died, officials said. The BSF also reported 41 new cases of infection, taking its tally of confirmed cases to 193.

A significant number of health workers and security personnel, who are among the 'frontline warriors' in the COVID-19 fight, have tested positive for the deadly virus in the recent .