The sequel of the sharpest rise of COVID-19 cases for the past few days amid the fifth phase of the lockdown has led India to hit the never-wished feat in its fight against the global pandemic as the country has, on Thursday, become the fourth worst-hit nation in the world by the virus after it has transcended the tally of the United Kingdom.

India has reported 10,956 fresh cases in the last 24 hours till Friday morning, according to the Union Health Ministry, and the highest single-day spike since the outbreak has taken the country to the fourth spot at the global stage as India has become more vulnerable country than its European counterparts which were under the deep susceptibility due to the global pandemic.

India has recorded over 9,500 cases for the seventh consecutive day and crossed 10,000 for the first time on Thursday when the Central government said that the country has no grounds for community transmission. According to the Union Health Ministry, India has reported 2,97,535 cases so far as of Friday morning of which 1,41,842 are active, 1,47,195 have been discharged while 8,498 had succumbed to the virus.

In the last 24 hours, the country has reported 396 deaths and more than 70% of deaths in the total death toll were due to co-morbid conditions and more than one-third of the total death toll were recorded in the past 11 days - precisely since June 1st, when the nation was mapped with the fifth phase of the lockdown with the relaxations of letting the country to have a gradual exit from the lockdown.

However, the current state has seemingly become contrary as the country has been witnessing a gradual rise in the COVID-19 cases and deaths which had let the country surpass some of the worst-hit nations. On June 1st, the country had recorded 1.9 lakh cases and in the span of 11 days, the country has added more than 1 lakh to its count, signaling the rampant spread of the pandemic.

It took a fortnight for India to reach the fifth spot at the global stage by surpassing the total tally of Spain. India attained the fifth feat on June 7 and in four days, it has now surpassed the United Kingdom and became the fourth worst-hit nation in the world after the United States (20,76,495 cases), Brazil (7,87,489 cases), and Russia (5,02,436 cases). 

By claiming that India has a recovery rate of 49.21 percent, the Indian Council of Medical Research has said that the lockdown and the containment measures have been preventing the rapid spread of the infection, but, however, a large proportion of the population remains under vulnerability.

Must read: With soaring cases, India is now the fifth worst-hit nation by COVID-19!