India registered its highest single-day spike of COVID-19 cases for the fifth consecutive day on Sunday, with 9,971 new infections taking the country's tally to 2,46,628, while the death toll rose to 6,929, according to the Union health ministry.

IMAGE: A migrant woman wraps a face mask on her child's face amid concerns over coronavirus pandemic, as they take refuge in a community hall provided by the government while waiting for a way to reach their native place, at Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu. Photograph: PTI Photo

India registered 287 deaths in the last 24 hours since Saturday morning.

India had raced past Spain on Saturday to become the fifth worst-hit nation by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, only the United States, Brazil, Russia and the United Kingdom are ahead of it.

IMAGE: A worker sanitizes Goddess Kali temple premises, during the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown, in Jammu. Photograph: PTI Photo

The number of active COVID-19 cases stands at 1,20,406, according to the health ministry.

A total of 1,19,292 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, the ministry said. "Thus, around 48.36 per cent patients have recovered so far," a senior ministry official said.

The total confirmed cases includes foreigners.

India records new spike of 9\,971 COVID-19 cases

India records spike of 9,971 COVID-19 cases; tally at 2,46,628