Amid all this, demand for lockdown across the country is also intensifying. The Supreme Court has asked the central and state governments to consider a lockdown to control the spread of the virus.

Asked if the Centre would impose a nationwide lockdown like last year, NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr V K Pal told a press conference of the Health Ministry that the central government has already given guidelines to state governments on restrictions to break the infection chain. He also said that if something else needs to be done in the near future, all its options can be discussed.

The guidelines in this regard were issued in detail on April 29, Dr V K Paul said, adding that night curfew advised state governments to stop transmission in areas where the infection rate is over 10 per cent. State governments will take a decision. In addition, social, political, sports and religious mobilization are also completely prohibited.

Meanwhile, India on Thursday recorded 4,12,262 new Covid cases and 3,980 deaths, taking the country’s number to 2,10,77,410, the Union Health Ministry said.

The top five states with maximum cases registered are Maharashtra with 57,640 cases, followed by Karnataka with 50,112 cases, Kerala with 41,953 cases, Uttar Pradesh with 31,111 cases and Tamil Nadu with 23,310 cases.

About 49.52 per cent of the new cases are reported from these five states, while Maharashtra alone has contributed 13.98 per cent share in the new cases