The coronavirus cases in India continue to spread rapidly as the country has marked significant and consecutive highest jumps in the COVID-19 tally over a major part of the last two weeks. With nearly 10,000 new cases reported in the last 24 hours, India's COVID-19 count on Friday hit a new high, overtaking Italy to become the sixth worst-hit nation.

According to the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India's death toll has is nearing the 7,000-mark as well.

Maharashtra continues to be the epicenter of the coronavirus spread where the number of cases has witnessed an even large spike recently. According to the Health Ministry, Maharashtra has the highest number of cases with nearly 83,000 positive cases of infection and almost 3,000 deaths. As many as 2,739 COVID-19 cases were reported from the state in the past 24 hours.

Earlier last week, the Centre had announced plans to unlock the country and issued guidelines for the opening of various businesses with social distancing norms. India has been under lockdown since March 25, which was to end on April 14, but was later extended till May 3 then further till May 17 and May 31. 

The current phase of re-opening, called 'Unlock 1', takes an economic focus. The government intends on being smart about implementing the lockdown in select places so that the economic activity of the country, as a whole, does not take any more hits. The rising number of coronavirus disease cases for the past few weeks in the country has led the Centre to take this call in order to prevent COVID-19 from spreading further.

According to the new guidelines, all activities outside of containment zones have been allowed to resume in a phased manner from June 1. The guidelines will come into effect from June 1 and will be effective till June 30.

The Union Health Ministry on Thursday released the standard operating procedure (SOPs) for malls, restaurants and hotels as they plan to open these establishments under relaxed guidelines from June 8. 

The SOPs include measures like allowing only asymptomatic staff and guests inside the premises and proper crowd management.

Here are all the latest coronavirus disease (COVID-19)-related updates in India on June 07, 2020 (Sunday):

06:43 IST Sunday, 07 June 2020

Assam: A total of 230 COVID-19 cases were reported in the state on Saturday, taking the total number of cases to 2,473.

06:40 IST Sunday, 07 June 2020

Kerala: As number of coronavirus cases increases in the state, Adlux Convention Centre at Angamaly in Kochi has been converted into a 200-bed COVID19 care centre.

Kerala: Adlux Convention Centre at Angamaly in Kochi has been converted into a 200-bed #COVID19 care centre, in the wake of increase in the number of cases in the state. The centre will start functioning from next week. State Minister vs Sunil Kumar inspected the facility yesterday.

06:28 IST Sunday, 07 June 2020

Tripura: COVID-19 cases in the state rise to 750 after 55 more people test positive. (PTI report)