Modi says coronavirus risk persists in India, recoveries increase

MUMBAI (Reuters) – India needs to be “more vigilant” as the new coronavirus threat persists, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a public speech on Sunday, even as the country recorded a record number of patient recoveries in one day.

Coronavirus infections have increased rapidly in India, the second most populous country in the world, with more than 48,000 cases recorded in the past 24 hours. India has so far recorded almost 1.4 million cases and more than 30,000 deaths.

On Sunday, the Indian government said 36,145 patients had recovered and had been discharged in the past 24 hours, marking a record number of recoveries in a single day. At the same time, a record number of tests were conducted in a single day, more than 440,000, she added.

Modi, in his monthly radio broadcast to the nation, sounded cautious, saying it was important to practice social distancing and wear masks to fight the virus.

“The danger from the crown is far from over. In many places, it is spreading rapidly, ”said Modi. “We need to be more vigilant.”

In recent weeks, coronavirus infections have spread even further to the countryside and to smaller cities. Experts say the number of cases will increase significantly in the coming months as testing increases, forcing a health system that is already on the brink.

The western state of Maharashtra is the most affected, registering more than 360,000 cases, of which approximately 60% were reported in the country’s financial capital, Mumbai, and its satellite cities.

India imposed a strict closure on March 25 to curb the spread of the coronavirus that causes respiratory disease COVID-19, shutting down businesses, schools, airlines and all non-essential services. Many of those restrictions have been eased in recent weeks.