Delhi has recorded its highest daily count of over 13,500 COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, reports ANI quoting Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday. 

“Corona cases are increasing rapidly. As per the report available with me, 13,500 cases have been reported in the last 24 hours. During the peak in November, 8500 cases were reported, compared to that we are already reporting 13,500 cases,” he said.

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“This wave is very dangerous. As per the data of the last 10-15 days, 65% of the patients are below 45 years of age. Your health and life are very important to us. So, I’d like to appeal to the youth to step out of the house only when it is necessary and follow all COVID protocols,” the chief minister added.

Kejriwal added that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) exams should be cancelled for this year. Students can be promoted on the basis of either online exams or internal assessment, he said.

The national capital reported 11,491 COVID-19 cases on Monday, the second-highest single-day surge in Delhi, while 72 more people died due to the disease, according to data shared by the health department.

In just a few weeks, Delhi has gone from near-normalcy — with less than 100 cases reported on a single day on February 16 — to an exploding pandemic, a grim reminder that the virus is continuing to extract its toll.