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NEW DELHI: India set a new virus record on Sunday when it reported 78,761 new infections in 24 hours, according to Health Ministry figures, surpassing the United States for the highest increase in a day in a single day.
India, home to 1.3 billion people, is already the third most infected country in the world with more than 3.5 million cases, behind the United States and Brazil.
It has also reported more than 63,000 deaths.
The United States set the previous record on July 17 with 77,638 daily infections, according to an AFP tally.
India’s grim milestone came a day after the government further eased its coronavirus lockdown, in place since late March, to boost the struggling economy.
Millions of people have lost their jobs since the shutdown began, and the poor have been particularly hard hit.
The Interior Ministry said gatherings of up to 100 people wearing masks and social distancing would be allowed at cultural, entertainment, sporting and political events starting next month.
Subway train services would also resume “in a staggered fashion” in major cities.
The coronavirus has hit megacities like the financial center Mumbai and the capital New Delhi badly, but is now increasing in smaller cities and rural areas as well.
Schools remain closed, but students can voluntarily meet with teachers on school premises if necessary, in accordance with the new guidelines.
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