NEW DELHI - India's total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases crossed the 50,000 mark on Thursday.

A total of 52,952 COVID-19 cases and 1,783 deaths were reported by the federal health ministry at 08:00 am (local time), an increase of 3,561 cases and 89 deaths in the past 24 hours.

On Wednesday evening, the number of COVID-19 cases in the country was 49,391 and the death toll was 1,694.

According to the ministry officials, 15,267 people have been discharged from hospitals after showing improvement.

"The number of active cases in the country right now is 35,902," reads the information.

Thursday marks the 44th straight day of ongoing lockdown across the country announced by the government to contain the spread of the pandemic.

The lockdown announced on March 25 was extended for the second time last week for two more weeks until May 17.