Kerala recorded close to 4,000 fresh Covid-19 infections during the last week to displace Maharashtra as the state with the highest number of coronavirus cases in the country. The southern state recorded a 3-fold increase in infections from 1, 333 cases registered in the preceding week.

Maharashtra recorded a 70% rise in Covid infections to 3,323 cases during the past week up from 1,956 fresh cases in the preceding week, according to data compiled by the Times of India.

Gujarat remained among the top three states with the number of fresh cases going up by 53% to 2,432. However, the spread of the disease was slower than the 139% growth rate in the preceding week.

Delhi, Goa Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are also witnessing a sharp increase in Covid cases. Himachal Pradesh, the most vaccinated state, is witnessing a surprise increase, which is being attributed to the large influx of tourists in the hill state.

As many as 36 deaths have also been reported in the past week up from 29 in the preceding week.

Meanwhile, the total number of active Covid cases in the country has now shot up to 18,389.

The Centre has advised the states to step up testing of Covid cases and ensure Covid appropriate behaviour such as wearing of masks and social distancing is followed in the affected clusters. States have also been told to send samples for genome sequencing in Centre’s labs in order to keep track of the Covid strains.