Community transmission or stage 3 of the novel coronavirus has begun in some parts of India, India Today reports All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) director Dr. Randeep Guleria as saying.

Dr. Guleria, however, maintained majority of the country was still in stage 2 or local transmission and only select pockets such as Mumbai had entered localised community transmission.

In a conversation with Hindu news channel Aaj Tak, the AIIMS director admitted that number of positive cases had hiked very sharply in past few days in some areas, while adding that India was in between stage 2 and 3.

While talking about the localised community spread in some specific areas he also assured there was nothing to be tensed about if it could be stopped in the beginning itself. He added, it was important to be extra vigilant now.

The total number of people confirmed positive for the coronavirus in India increased to 4067 while 109 deaths were reported across the country, as per the latest data updated at 9 am Monday (6 April) by the Health Ministry.

At least 490 new cases and 26 new deaths have been reported in the last 12 hours.

According to the report, the AIIMS chief also spoke about the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi Nizamuddin area and said it was one of the main reasons of the sudden spike in cases. He stressed upon the need to find all those who had attended the congregation or those who later came in contact with the Jamaatis so that they could be quarantined and tested.

Dr. Guleria, when asked about the possibility of an extension to the ongoing nationwide lockdown, said things would only become clear after 10 April after the authorities have some important data with them.

The senior doctor urged people to support doctors and healthcare worker as they too were living in fear of being at higher risk of getting infected.