NEW DELHI, April 21: Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said Tuesday that the death toll due to COVID-19 outbreak in the country rose to 592, while infections climbed to 18,658.

The latest update showed that there were 47 fresh deaths and 1,336 people tested positive in the last 24 hours, with ministry data showing that there was an increase in the number of casualties as one day death rose to 47 from the earlier figure of 36, while the number of infections saw a slight decrease from 1,553 a day earlier to 1,336. Out of the total infected cases, 3,252 people were discharged from hospitals after recovery, the ministry added.

Maharashtra remains the worst affected Indian state as the death toll climbed to 232, while there are 4,666 infections followed by the capital New Delhi with 47 deaths and 2,081 infections as the pandemic hit 33 Indian states.

The Indian authorities decided to relax restrictions imposed as part of nation-wide lock-down in some regions where the impact of COVID-19 was not severe. The central and state governments had slapped curfew-like restrictions, closing down schools, educational institutions and universities imposing ban on religious and other festivals, huge gatherings. All transport services including train, bus, metro and flight were also came to a halt in wake of the spread of the deadly virus