India's daily Covid-19 cases rise to record for fifth time this week

A deserted Bandra-Worli sea link is seen during a weekend lockdown to limit the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in the country, in Mumbai

* India reports 145,384 new cases, 794 deaths * India reports most number of cases globally in past two weeks * Maharashtra state enters strict weekend lockdown India's daily coronavirus cases on Saturday rose by a record for the fifth time this week and deaths surged to the highest in more than five months, with hospitals and crematoriums overflowing in parts of the country. New cases in the world's second-most populous country have totalled the most of anywhere in the world over the last two weeks. India's overall tally of 13.21 million is the third-highest globally, just shy of Brazil and below the worst affected country, the United States. The second surge in infections, which has spread much more rapidly than the first one that peaked in September, has forced many states to impose fresh curbs but Prime Minister Narendra Modi has refused to impose a national lockdown given the high economic costs.