New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said 88 new cases of coronavirus were reported on Thursday, the highest in India in a single day, with the total number of infections rising to 694. The death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 16.

In its updated figures, the ministry said that as of 8pm on Thursday, Gujarat and Maharashtra reported three deaths each, Karnataka reported two, and Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Punjab, Delhi, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir reported one death each.

The data said that the number of active COVID-19 cases in the country stood at 633, while 44 people were either cured or discharged and one had migrated. The total number of 694 cases included 47 foreign nationals.

However, the ministry maintained that the rate of increase in the positive cases was "relatively stable". Officials also said India was at the second stage as there is still no "hard evidence" to say there has been community transmission of the fast-spreading coronavirus.

Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said "there is still no hard evidence to say there has been community transmission of coronavirus in India", assuring citizens that the country was prepared to tackle the challenge.

While the numbers of COVID-19 cases are increasing, "there appears to be a relatively stable trend or even little bit reduction in the rate at which they are increasing", he said.

"This, however, does not establish a clear trend. We are hopeful that by following the policy of social distancing, conducting a proper contact tracing and by ensuring all people at home quarantine are monitored, we will be able to combat the disease," said Agarwal.

As the virus extended its footprint, the central and state governments unleashed measures on a war footing. While the Union Finance Ministry unveiled a Rs 1.70 lakh crore economic package involving free foodgrain and cooking gas to poor for the next three months, one-time doles to women and poor senior citizens among other benefits, the health ministry said 17 states have started to earmark hospitals for dedicated treatment of COVID-19 patients.

Globally, the death toll from the coronavirus has risen to 21,293, with more than 471,518 cases reported in over 170 countries and territories, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Infections across India on the rise

Maharashtra has reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases so far at 124, including three foreign nationals, followed by Kerala, where the number of cases has climbed up to 118, including eight foreign nationals. The number of cases in Telangana has gone up to 44, including 10 foreigners.

Karnataka has reported 55 COVID-19 cases, while the number of cases in Gujarat has climbed to 43, including a foreigner.

The number of cases in Rajasthan has increased to 41, including two foreigners. Uttar Pradesh has reported 41 cases, including a foreigner, while the number of positive cases in Delhi has gone up to 36, including a foreigner.

Punjab has reported 33 cases, while 30 COVID-19 cases have so far been detected in Haryana, including 14 foreigners.

The number of cases has climbed to 26 Tamil Nadu, including six foreigners. Madhya Pradesh has recorded 20 cases, Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir 13 each, Andhra Pradesh has reported 11 cases each, while West Bengal has 10 COVID-19 patients.

Chandigarh has reported seven cases, Bihar and Chhatisgarh have registered six cases each while Uttarakhand has five, including a foreigner.

Himachal Pradesh has reported three cases each, while two cases have been detected in Odisha.

Goa has reported three coronavirus cases. Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar, Mizoram and Manipur have reported one case each.

(With inputs from PTI)