<span style="color: #222222;">Maharashtra today reported a huge spike in the number of new cases of COVID-19 and related fatalities. While the number of cases jumped by 1115, the death toll witnessed a rise of nine. According to the State's public health department, a few of these deaths occurred earlier but have been adjusted to the final tally today. Accordingly, the total number of infections in Maharashtra has risen to 81,52,291 while the death toll has increased to 1,48,470.<br />''<br />''The State had yesterday recorded 919 fresh cases and just one fatality. However, in a bit of reassuring news, 560 patients recovered from the infection during the day, taking the total number of recoveries to 79,98,400. The number of active cases in Maharashtra stands at 5,421.<br />''<br />''Mumbai reported 320 new cases and two fatalities. The entire Mumbai circle, including neighbouring Thane, Panvel, and Palghar districts accounted for 590 cases and five deaths. Pune Circle reported 190 new cases and three deaths while Nagpur reported 174 new infections. Among the active case count, Mumbai recorded 1,577 active patients, Thane – 953,  Pune – 776, and Nagpur – 548.<br />''<br />''Considering the COVID-19 situation across the globe, screening of international passengers resumed across Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur airports from 24th December 2022. While all arriving passengers are being thermally scanned, two percent random samples are being tested using RT-PCR. Out of the 17.97 lakh passengers who have arrived at these airports since 24th December, testing has been carried out on 40,250 samples, out of which 67 have returned positive. Out of these positive cases, 15 are from Mumbai, 12 are from Pune, one each from Navi Mumbai, Vasai-Virar, Amravati, Sangli, Aurangabad, Satara, and Nagpur while the remaining are from other states. </span><br />