India's worst-hit state Maharashtra, including its capital&nbsp;Mumbai, will be under a nightly curfew from Sunday following a sharp rise in coronavirus infections, officials said.

India as a whole has seen a renewed surge in new infections in recent weeks.&nbsp;Maharashtra in western India, home to around 110 million people, has seen the biggest rise, recording on Thursday more than 35,000 new infections in 24 hours, the highest yet.

Mumbai&nbsp;recorded over 5,500 cases on Friday, almost doubling its highest daily count of last year.

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray warned Friday of even stricter restrictions if people do not follow guidelines on social distancing and mask-wearing, local media quoted him as saying.

"I have no intention of imposing a lockdown, but given the growing number of patients, there is a possibility that the health facilities that we have set up on a large scale across the state will also be reduced," Thackeray said.

India has recorded almost 12 million infections, the third-highest behind the United States and Brazil, although per capita rates and the number of fatalities are considerably lower.

The renewed jump in cases has prompted India, which many other poorer countries were relying on for supplies including through the Covax initiative, to put the brakes on exports of vaccines.

India's worst-hit state Maharashtra, including its capital Mumbai, will be under a nightly curfew from Sunday following a sharp rise in coronavirus infections, officials said.

India's worst-hit state Maharashtra, including its capital Mumbai, will be under a nightly curfew from Sunday following a sharp rise in coronavirus infections, officials said. India as a whole has seen a renewed surge in new infections in recent weeks. Maharashtra in western India, home to around 110 million people, has seen the biggest rise, recording on Thursday more than 35,000 new infections in 24 hours, the highest yet. Mumbai recorded over 5,500 cases on Friday, almost doubling its highest daily count of last year. Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray warned Friday of even stricter restrictions if people do not follow guidelines on social distancing and mask-wearing, local media quoted him as saying. "I have no intention of imposing a lockdown, but given the growing number of patients, there is a possibility that the health facilities that we have set up on a large scale across the state will also be reduced," Thackeray said. India has recorded almost 12 million infections, the third-highest behind the United States and Brazil, although per capita rates and the number of fatalities are considerably lower. The renewed jump in cases has prompted India, which many other poorer countries were relying on for supplies including through the Covax initiative, to put the brakes on exports of vaccines.

Maharashtra announces night curfew after sharp rise in COVID cases

Maharashtra reported its highest single-day spike of 14,492 coronavirus cases on Thursday, which pushed its overall count to 6,43,289, the state health department said.

The death of 326 patients increased the toll to 21,359, it said.

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A total of 12,243 patients were discharged on Thursday following their recovery, the department said in a statement. 
With this, 4,59,124 COVID-19 patients have been discharged so far, it added.

There are 1,62,491 active cases in the state.

The recovery rate in the state is 71.37 per cent, while the fatality rate is 3.32 per cent.

Of the total number of cases on Thursday, 3,659 were in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), including 1,275 in Mumbai city alone.

There were 83 deaths in the MMR on Thursday, which includes 46 in Mumbai.

The tally of cases in MMR is 2,99,165, which includes 1,32,822 in Mumbai city, while the number of deaths in the region has reached 11,968, including 7,314 in Mumbai.

Elsewhere in the state, Nashik city reported 745 new cases, Ahmednagar city 247, Jalgaon city 101, Pune city 1,682, Pimpri Chinchwad 1,000, Kolhapur city 173, Sangli city 281, Aurangabad city 291, Latur city 122, Nanded city 112, Nagpur city 924.

Of the total number of 326 deaths, 231 were from the last 48 hours, 63 from the last week and 32 others from the period before last week, the statement said.

As many as 34,14,809 people have been tested so far, the department said.

Currently, 11,76,261 people are in home quarantine and 37,639 in institutional quarantine.

Maharashtra's COVID-19 tally is as follows: Positive cases 6,43,289, deaths 21,359, recoveries 4,59,124, active cases 1,62,491 and people tested so far 34,14,809.&nbsp;

Maharashtra reported its highest single-day spike of 14,492 coronavirus cases on Thursday, which pushed its overall count to 6,43,289, the state health department said.

Maharashtra reported its highest single-day spike of 14,492 coronavirus cases on Thursday, which pushed its overall count to 6,43,289, the state health department said. The death of 326 patients increased the toll to 21,359, it said. Also read | New sero survey In Delhi reveals 29% people have developed COVID-19 antibodies A total of 12,243 patients were discharged on Thursday following their recovery, the department said in a statement. With this, 4,59,124 COVID-19 patients have been discharged so far, it added. There are 1,62,491 active cases in the state. The recovery rate in the state is 71.37 per cent, while the fatality rate is 3.32 per cent. Of the total number of cases on Thursday, 3,659 were in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), including 1,275 in Mumbai city alone. There were 83 deaths in the MMR on Thursday, which includes 46 in Mumbai. The tally of cases in MMR is 2,99,165, which includes 1,32,822 in Mumbai city, while the number of deaths in the region has reached 11,968, including 7,314 in Mumbai. Elsewhere in the state, Nashik city reported 745 new cases, Ahmednagar city 247, Jalgaon city 101, Pune city 1,682, Pimpri Chinchwad 1,000, Kolhapur city 173, Sangli city 281, Aurangabad city 291, Latur city 122, Nanded city 112, Nagpur city 924. Of the total number of 326 deaths, 231 were from the last 48 hours, 63 from the last week and 32 others from the period before last week, the statement said. As many as 34,14,809 people have been tested so far, the department said. Currently, 11,76,261 people are in home quarantine and 37,639 in institutional quarantine. Maharashtra's COVID-19 tally is as follows: Positive cases 6,43,289, deaths 21,359, recoveries 4,59,124, active cases 1,62,491 and people tested so far 34,14,809.

Coronavirus: With more than 14,000 cases, Maharashtra records highest one-day rise

Observing that the current situation was "not at all conducive" to reopening of places of worship, the Bombay High Court on Friday refused to pass any interim order directing that temples in Maharashtra be opened for public.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice PV Tavade said the COVID-19 situation in the state had not improved and people must therefore, pray at home.

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The bench was hearing a public interest litigation filed through advocate Dipesh Siroya seeking that the Maharashtra government be directed to reopen temples for public.

The state government could open temples and allow only a limited number of worshippers at a time in accordance with its COVID-19 lockdown guidelines, Siroya argued.

The bench, however, asked Siroya which temple he considered personally, to be the "biggest?"

"The biggest temple is humanity," Siroya said.

To which, the bench responded saying, "If you have any love for humanity, do not press for such prayers then."

"For the love and safety of humanity, pray at home," it said.

The state government pointed out that on August 12, it had submitted a detailed reply before another bench of the high court explaining how COVID-19 cases were still on the rise and that opening temples or any other places of worship was not feasible currently.

The state government said it had prohibited public gatherings for celebrations for Gudi Padwa and Janmashtami, and people had been asked to pray at home.

When Siroya pointed out that several other states had reopened some places of worship, and that the COVID-19 situation in Maharashtra was improving, the bench said, it did not think the situation had improved.

"If the situation improves, this temple of justice will be the first to open its doors to the public. The current situation is not at all conducive to opening doors (of places of worship) to the public," it said.&nbsp;

Observing that the current situation was "not at all conducive" to reopening of places of worship, the Bombay High Court on Friday refused to pass any interim order directing that temples in Maharashtra be opened for public.

Observing that the current situation was "not at all conducive" to reopening of places of worship, the Bombay High Court on Friday refused to pass any interim order directing that temples in Maharashtra be opened for public. A bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice PV Tavade said the COVID-19 situation in the state had not improved and people must therefore, pray at home. Also read | India tally crosses 24 lakh-mark with 64,553 new cases in last 24-hours The bench was hearing a public interest litigation filed through advocate Dipesh Siroya seeking that the Maharashtra government be directed to reopen temples for public. The state government could open temples and allow only a limited number of worshippers at a time in accordance with its COVID-19 lockdown guidelines, Siroya argued. The bench, however, asked Siroya which temple he considered personally, to be the "biggest?" "The biggest temple is humanity," Siroya said. To which, the bench responded saying, "If you have any love for humanity, do not press for such prayers then." "For the love and safety of humanity, pray at home," it said. The state government pointed out that on August 12, it had submitted a detailed reply before another bench of the high court explaining how COVID-19 cases were still on the rise and that opening temples or any other places of worship was not feasible currently. The state government said it had prohibited public gatherings for celebrations for Gudi Padwa and Janmashtami, and people had been asked to pray at home. When Siroya pointed out that several other states had reopened some places of worship, and that the COVID-19 situation in Maharashtra was improving, the bench said, it did not think the situation had improved. "If the situation improves, this temple of justice will be the first to open its doors to the public. The current situation is not at all conducive to opening doors (of places of worship) to the public," it said.

COVID-19 situation not conducive to reopening of temples: HC