DW BUREAU / chandigarh Punjab recorded on Thursday 441 fresh COVID-19 cases, the highest single-day spike yet, taking the tally to 11,739, while the death toll climbed to 277 with eight more people succumbing to the disease, according to a medical bulletin by the state government. Jalandhar and Patiala reported two fatalities each. One death each was reported from Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur, Amritsar and Mohali. Among the fresh cases, 89 were reported from Ludhiana, followed by 63 from Jalandhar, 53 from Patiala, 42 from Bathinda, 30 from Mohali, 22 from Amritsar, 20 from Sangrur, 17 from Ferozepur and 13 each from Pathankot, Muktsar, Faridkot and Fatehgarh Sahib. Gurdaspur had 12 new cases of the coronavirus infection, Hoshiarpur nine, Fazilka eight, Tarn Taran seven, Mansa, SBS Nagar and Kapurthala four each, Moga three and Barnala two. A total of 100 patients were discharged from hospitals on Wednesday after recovering from COVID-19. Thirteen patients were in a critical state and have been put on ventilator while 70 are on oxygen support, the bulletin said. So far, 7,741 people have been cured of the disease and there were 3,721 active COVID-19 cases in the state, it stated. Punjab has been witnessing daily surge in COVID-19 cases in the range of 300-400 for the past several days. On Wednesday, the state had witnessed an increase of 414 cases. Ludhiana has the highest COVID-19 tally with 2,138 cases, followed by 1,832 in Jalandhar, 1,381 in Amritsar, 1,184 in Patiala, 865 in Sangrur, 635 in Mohali , 379 in Hoshiarpur, 337 in Gurdaspur, 304 in Pathankot, 278 in SBS Nagar, 258 in Fatehgarh Sahib, 255 in Ferozepur and 252 in Tarn Taran.Faridkot and Bathinda has so far recorded 242 cases each, Moga 233, Muktsar 199, Fazilka 187, Rupnagar 180, Kapurthala 175, Barnala 93 and Mansa 90. According to the bulletin, 5,00,562 samples have sent for testing till now. With the highest single-day spike of 45,720 cases, India's COVID-19 tally crossed the 12-lakh mark on Thursday, while the death toll mounted to 29,861 with a record 1,129 fatalities in a day, according to the Union Health Ministry data. The country crossed the 12-lakh mark, just three days after it went past the 11-lakh milestone. The coronavirus caseload in the country surged to 12,38,635 on Thursday, while 7,82,606 people have recovered so far in the country, the data updated at 8 am showed.    DON'T GO ON STRIKE: SIDHU In wake of the reports that staff working under the National Health Mission Punjab is proceeding on strike, Punjab's Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu today appealed these employees not to go on strike or any mass casual leave. The Health Minister said that the entire world is fighting against the crisis due to Pandemic COVID-19 and the health employees are on the forefront for the cause of mankind. In such a scenario, Punjab Government is also making untiring efforts to serve its people in this time of crisis. Already The Epidemic Diseases Act has been enforced and State Government is making all efforts to combat the menace. Sidhu said that at this juncture the staff working under NHM should not even think of such a move as this would not only be anti mankind but also against their call of duty. He exhorted the health workers especially ANMs, Staff Nurses to keep serving the people of state in the manner they have been doing especially after the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. Sidhu said that we have to live up to expectations of the people of the Punjab as they look upon us at this hour of crisis. He further said that despite all odds, the Health Department recently gave NHM employees 6%+12% special COVID-19 increment about two months back. He said it is now the time to follow the spirit of Florence Nightingale and serve the people of the state. The Health Minister urged the employees of department not to back out from their moral duty of being forefront COVID-19 warriors. He said as done in past the State Govt is always open to any genuine problems being faced by the staff and any one facing any problems can contact him directly. Sidhu said that he is hopeful that the employees of National Health Mission Punjab, being the backbone of the Health Services will stand rock solid with the department. (editor@dailyworld.in)