Daily new tally in the country inched closer to 30,000 new cases and 200 fresh deaths. India recorded this year’s highest new cases at 28,903, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated at 8 am on Wednesday. As many as 30,254 new infections were recorded in a span of 24 hours on December 13.

The death toll increased to 1,59,044 with 188 new fatalities, the highest in around two months.  The total active caseload has increased to 2,34,406 that now comprises 2.05 per cent of the total infections, while the recovery rate has further dropped to 96.56 per cent, the data stated. Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu continue to report a high number of daily cases, the ministry said.