NEW DELHI: India reported 12,881 new cases on Thursday, with the country’s death toll now over 12,000 and even as the government ruled out reimposing a countrywide lockdown.

India’s death toll reached 12,237, a rise of 334 in the past 24 hours, according to the Health Ministry.

The number of recoveries touched 52 per cent at 194,325.

India stands behind the United States, Brazil and Russia in the number of cases.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday rejected media reports that the government was considering reimposing lockdown.

India has to think about further unlocking, minimising all possibilities of harm to people, he said.

The March 25 lockdown is now restricted to high-risk areas. The worst-hit states are Mahar­ashtra, Tamil Nadu and New Delhi.