The death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 824 and the number of cases climbed to 26,496 in India on Sunday, according to the Union health ministry. The ministry released the data on the basis of compilation of data from various states

The death toll increased by 45 and the number of cases has gone up by 1,554 since the ministry last updated its data on Saturday evening. The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 19,868 while 5,803 people were cured and discharged, and one patient has migrated, the ministry said.

The total number of cases include 111 foreign nationals.

Of the 45 deaths reported since Saturday evening, 22 are from Maharashtra, six in Gujarat, seven from Madhya Pradesh, one from among others.Of the total 824 COVID-19 deaths, Maharashtra accounts for the highest number of 323 fatalities, followed by Gujarat (133), Madhya Pradesh (99), Delhi (54), Andhra Pradesh (31) and Rajasthan (27).

Meanwhile in Haryana, businesses in rural areas and neighbourhood shops in urban areas outside containment zones are set to open from Sunday. Dhanpat Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue, Disaster Management and Consolidation Department, said the file pertaining to endorsement of the MHA orders had been cleared by Chief Secretary Keshni Anand Arora. Sources said the issue was also discussed by the Chief Minister with DCs during a video-conference. To dispel any confusion, detailed guidelines will be issued by Monday, said sources.

Dhanpat Singh said the shops would operate with 50 per cent staff strength