Mumbai surpasses China's Wuhan in coronavirus cases as infections surge

India's financial capital Mumbai on Thursday reported 1,567 coronavirus cases taking the total number of COVID-19 cases to 52,445 surpassing China's Wuhan city where the virus first emerged.

Wuhan has recorded 50,340 coronavirus infections eversince the first case was officially reportedin the city on December 31. The death toll due to the virus in the Chinese city currently stands at 3,869. Wuhanrecently emerged from a 76-day lockdown even as authorities continue to keep a close watch.

Mumbai has recorded 1,855 deaths so far with 23,693 patients having recovered from the virus, according to Mumbai health officials. On Wednesday, the city had recorded the highest-ever 97 deaths in a single-day asthe number of infected cases crossed the 1,500-mark in a day for the first time since May 30.

Wuhan had recently witnessed a growing number of asymptomatic cases prompting the city government to undertake virus testing of all its 11.2 million residents last month.

Mumbai city officials said there were 26,897 active COVID- 19 cases with 749 new suspected coronavirus patients admitted in hospitals in the last 24 hours.

The health officials added that out of the 97 deaths, 80 patients had co-morbidities, meaning they had pre-existing health conditions.

In Maharashtra's Pune there were 435 new coronavirus cases and seven deaths in the last 24 hours with the total number of cases rising to 10,394 and death toll rising to 449 in the city.