COVID-19 in India live updates: Gurugram adds 18 new containment zones as cases increase, total 63

Maharashtra has the highest number of cases with nearly 60,000 positive cases of infection and close to 2,000 deaths.

The coronavirus cases in India continue to spread rapidly and the country has marked significant and consecutive highest jumps in the COVID-19 tally over the major part of the last week.

The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection in India crossed the 1.61 lakh-mark on Thursday, while the death toll has topped the 4,700-mark as well.

Maharashtra continues to be the epicenter of the coronavirus spread where the number of cases has witnessed an even large spike recently. According to the Health Ministry, Maharashtra has the highest number of cases with nearly 60,000 positive cases of infection and close to 2,000 deaths.

Notably, Mumbai, the financial capital of the country, has become the hotbed of the coronavirus spread in the state where the number of cases has crossed the 35,000-mark while the death toll has crossed the 1,135-mark as well.

Interestingly, even though the virus tally continues to spike, new guidelines issued by the central government pertaining to Lockdown 4.0 remain enforced. Several restrictions have been lifted, which includes permitting transport services, reopening of shops, and resuming online shopping. According to the central government's most recent order, all activities, except the ones "specifically prohibited", will be allowed in green, orange, red, and buffer zones, which continue to be classified by the States/UTs and district authorities.

Domestic flight services resumed in India on Monday, while international flights are to start soon as well, the central government has informed as part of its gradual reboot of air travel services in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.

Here are the latest updates on coronavirus in India on Thursday, May 28 2020

07:30 IST Friday, 29 May 2020

The Gurugram administration has added 18 more areas to the containment zones due to hike in COVID-19 cases, taking the total number to 63. The decision was taken on Thursday in a review meeting headed by Gurgaon DM Amit Khatri.