India on Friday registered the highest-ever single-day spike in the number of Covid-19 cases. As per the official government tally, India now has 6,872 cases of novel coronavirus. The central government data puts deaths due to Covid-19 in India at 206.

The massive spike in coronavirus cases comes a day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with chief ministers of all states, where he is expected to take a call on the extension of nationwide lockdown imposed on March 25, even as two states - Odisha and Punjab - have already extended restrictions till April 30.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation has also cautioned the global leaders against a hastened withdrawal of restrictions imposed to control the virus, as the organisation said, it could lead to a re-emergence of the deadly infection. The novel coronavirus pandemic has infected over 16 lakh people globally since its emergence in China last December while the worldwide death toll is fast approaching 1,00,000.

Despite the 17th day of the nationwide lockdown, India registered over 1,000 new cases of the novel coronavirus. By 9 PM April 10, ICMR data said that total 6872 individuals had tested positive in India. However, a PTI tally of numbers reported by various states as on 9.30 PM showed a total of 7,510 having been affected by the virus nationwide so far with at least 251 deaths. More than 700 have been cured and discharged.

While several states including Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh reported a rising number of cases, the Union Health Ministry said the rate of people testing positive was only 0.2 per cent on Thursday when more than 16,000 samples were tested. Cumulatively close to 1.5 lakh samples have been tested so far across India.

Maharashtra has reported the maximum 1,574 cases, including close to 1,000 in Mumbai itself, while over 100 have died in the state. Tamil Nadu and Delhi have crossed the 900-mark in terms of positive cases, Rajasthan has over 500 now, while Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have reported more than 400 positive cases each. Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat are also fast approaching the 400-mark, while Kerala has also reported over 300 cases already.

More than 200 cases have been reported by each of Karnataka and Jammu & Kashmir, while the 100-mark has been breached already by West Bengal, Haryana and Punjab.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said most of the 27 positive cases reported in his state on Thursday -- the maximum daily increase for the state -- were those of secondary transmission and expressed apprehension that the state may be entering the community transmission stage of the outbreak.

PM Modi is expected to take a call on the extension of nationwide lockdown during his review meeting chief minister of all states via video conferencing on Saturday. While the majority of states and experts have recommended an extension of the lockdown, it is also being speculated that the government may micro-manage containment zones identified as hotspots in states instead of imposing restrictions across the board.

Some states such as Kerala have suggested phased opening of the lockdown, while other suggestions from various states include allowing liquor sale to shore up the revenues and to allow private vehicles on an odd-even basis. However, most states have suggested keeping the public road transport, rail and airline services suspended for more time. Many have also recommended keeping state borders sealed, except for goods movement.

A few states have also suggested area-specific lockdown with stricter restrictions, which are as such being followed in the places identified as hotspots of the virus spread.

The Home Ministry, separately, has sought views of state governments on the 21-day lockdown, scheduled to end on April 14, including whether more categories of people and services need to be exempted, officials said on Friday.

Some of the suggestions made by state governments include allowing construction-related activities in rural areas