The total number confirmed novel coronavirus in India nears 26,500 even as the death toll shot up to 824, according to the data released by the Ministry of Health early Sunday.

According to the health ministry, there are a total of 26,496 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 19,868 active cases in India as of now.

Between Friday night and Saturday evening, India recorded a total of 56 coronavirus-related deaths. Moreover, Maharashtra recorded the most number of cases (over 6,000), followed by Gujarat, Delhi, Rajasthan, each of which reported more than 2,000 confirmed cases, as of the figures till Saturday evening.

Meanwhile, the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Andhra Pradesh surged past the 1,000-mark on Saturday with the state reporting a total of 1,061 cases. Out of these, 171 patients have recovered while 31 have succumbed to the infection. Multiple reports highlighted frontline workers, especially police personnel, were among those infected with Covid-19 in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

In Mumbai, a police constable, aged 57, died while undergoing treatment for the novel coronavirus. He was posted at the Vakola police station and had tested positive for Covid-19 just a few days back.

The Centre had earlier claimed that the average doubling rate of Covid-19 cases in India is 9.1 days. It was further stated that between 8 am on Friday and 8 am on Saturday, India recorded a 6 per cent growth in new coronavirus cases. This has been pegged as the lowest daily growth rate recorded since the number of confirmed cases of the infection reached 100.

Several Indian states are now considering the use of plasma therapy for the treatment of critical Covid-19 patients. According to healthcare experts, the plasma taken from the body of a patient who has recovered from Covid-19 includes antibodies that can help stabilise the immune system patients battling the infection.

However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned that people who test positive for the new coronavirus and recovered later might not be immunised and protected against reinfection.

"There is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from Covid-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection," the WHO said in a statement.

"People who assume that they are immune to a second infection because they have received a positive test result may ignore public health advice," it said.