The Latest: India reports highest spike of 16,000 cases

NEW DELHI — India has recorded the highest spike of 15,968 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total to to 456,183, with Mumbai and New Delhi as the worst-hit cities in the country.

The Health Ministry on Wednesday also reported a record 24-hour increase of 465 deaths due to COVID-19, driving fatalities to 14,476.

The ministry said the recovery rate was continuing to improve at 56.38%.

The actual numbers, like elsewhere in the world, are thought to be far higher due to a number of reasons, such as limited testing.

Maharashtra, New Delhi and Tamil Nadu states are the worst-hit states, accounting for nearly 60% of all cases in the country.

New Delhi is emerging a cause of concern for the federal government and is being criticized for its poor contact tracing and a lack of hospital beds. With infections in New Delhi set to surge, the government estimates it will have nearly 550,000 cases by the end of July.

India is the fourth hardest-hit country by the pandemic in the world after the U.S., Russia and Brazil.

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HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:

— Fauci: Next few weeks critical to tamping down virus spikes

— Baseball’s back: MLB sets 60-game sked, opens July 23 or 24

— Brazil tests COVID shot, without deal to use it if it works

— The governor of Germany’s most populous state has announced weeklong lockdown measures in a region that has seen a large increase in COVID-19 cases linked to a slaughterhouse.

— The United Nations chief is criticizing the total lack of international coordination in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. And Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is warning that the go-it-alone policy of many countries will not defeat the coronavirus.

— British...