India, a country of 1.3 billion people, on Wednesday recorded the highest single-day COVID-19 toll with 4,205 infected patients dying across the country in the last 24 hours. The COVID-19 toll has now crossed the 250,000 mark.

In 24 hours between Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, the country recorded 348,421 fresh infections taking the overall tally to 23.3 million, IBNS said. 

Maharashtra reported about 41,000 cases, much lower than its average in the last few weeks. Karnataka, Kerala continue to report around 40,000 cases each. Of the 4,205 deaths reported on Tuesday, the highest ever, Maharashtra reported more than 800 deaths. Six states – Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, apart from Maharashtra – reporting more than 200 deaths a day.

Nearly 90 per cent of the country is witnessing a high positivity rate, stressing that 640 districts out of the 734 are above the national threshold level of five per cent.