With a global record of 90,000 coronavirus cases in a single day, India overtook Brazil as the second most Covid-19 infected country in the world. The numbers are expected to grow with no peak in sight. Even though some cities have been re-opened, public services, such as the underground train service, have remain shuttered for months.
With 4.2 million nationwide tally, India is trailing behind the United States – 6.2 million cases – in terms of confirmed coronavirus infections. According to the data, India is adding more per-day Covid cases than any other country since the beginning of the pandemic. Experts say that there is no peak in sight – the cases are expected to grow even more.
India’s capital, New Delhi, and its financial hub, Mumbai, are the ground zero of the new surge of coronavirus infections. The rural areas, which were somewhat protected in the initial days of the pandemic, are also witnessing a rapid surge in the Covid infections. “The urban areas are not slowing down and rural areas are picking up”, one expert said.
According to the government data, Monday’s jump was the third straight daily record of coronavirus infections in the world, taking India past Brazil, which has 4.1 million cases. Due to the time difference between both countries, Brazil will release the corresponding figure later.
India’s coronavirus death toll, even though significantly higher, is still lower than Brazil, 126,000 deaths, and the United States, 193,000 deaths.
The Indian officials say that the infection tally is rising due to the rapid testing. They argue that the recovery rate shows that the testing, tracing and treatment strategies are yielding good results and the situation is under control in a country of such size.
The BJP-led government is facing accusations from the opposition party for mishandling the pandemic. The pressure is growing towards the government to haul the Indian economy from a months-long freeze. The economy has contracted nearly 24% in the past three months to June.