India: New Coronavirus Cases Hit Record Again

In India, the new coronavirus cases surged to a record of 152,879 on Sunday as the Asian country battled the second wave of cases by pushing for faster vaccination, with some states considering reimposing more onerous restrictions to curb the spread of the deadly virus.

According to a Reuters tally, India leads the world in the daily average new infections reported, accounting for one in every six conditions reported across the world every day. This week, the everyday ailments have set record highs nearly six times, according to data compiled by the federal health ministry.

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Meanwhile, the fatalities have also surged. On Sunday, the Indian health authorities reported 839 deaths – the highest in nearly five months – as hospitals and crematoriums in some parts of the giant country grappled with the worsening crisis. So far, the nation has recorded more than 13.35 million cases, the third-highest worldwide, behind only Brazil and America.

On Sunday, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a four-day “Vaccination Festival” to push more eligible citizens to get the coronavirus vaccine.  Since January, the country has administered more than 100 million shots, the most China and the United States.

Yet, several Indian states have complained of a vaccine shortage as the vaccination is currently restricted to about 400 million of 1.35 billion people living in the populous country.

The second wave of infections, which has spread much more rapidly than the first one that peaked in September, has forced state authorities to impose fresh curbs and social distancing rules. In western Maharashtra state, home to the financial capital Mumbai and has the country’s highest infections. Moreover, the state officials said it might impose new measures beyond a weekend lockdown that will end on Monday.

On late Saturday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said, “To break the COVID transmission chain, it is imperative that strict restrictions must be imposed for a certain period.” Meanwhile, the officials have blamed the new infections’ surge mainly on reluctance to wear facemasks and crowding, even as large religious gatherings and political rallies have continued in recent weeks.