India reports highest coronavirus cases in more than 3 months

• India reported 39,726 new coronavirus cases on Friday.
  
• The tally of infections stands at 11.51 million in India, the highest after the United States and Brazil.
• Deaths rose by 154 to 159,370, data from the health ministry showed.
  

India reported 39,726 new coronavirus cases on Friday, its highest in more than three months, as the worst-hit states, such as western industrialised Maharashtra, adopted fresh curbs to restrain the spread of the disease.

The tally of infections stands at 11.51 million, the highest after the United States and Brazil. Deaths rose by 154 to 159,370, data from the health ministry showed.

Read more: India reports most number of cases since December 13

The federal government has blamed crowding and a general reluctance to wear masks for the spike, ruling out the virus mutations that have been a factor in Western countries.

Maharashtra, home to India's commercial capital of Mumbai, is among the states that have already tightened rules to curb the spread of the virus.