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NEW DELHI: India saw the largest single-day rise in COVID-19 cases on Sunday (Aug 30) with 78,761 new infections.
The increase in new cases, the highest reported by any country since the pandemic began, surpassed the July 17 figure of 77,638 in the United States, according to an AFP tally.
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.
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A rickshaw puller in a protective mask waits for customers on a street, amid the spread of COVID-19 in Old Delhi, India. (Photo: Reuters / Adnan Abidi)
On Saturday, Indian authorities further eased coronavirus lockdown restrictions even as cases and deaths spiked across the country.
The government faces pressure to free up the economy as millions have lost their jobs since nationwide restrictions were first imposed in March.
The Interior Ministry said gatherings of up to 100 people wearing masks and social distancing will be allowed at cultural, entertainment, sporting and political events starting next month.
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It will also allow the resumption of metro train services “in a phased manner” in the main cities.
The coronavirus has hit megacities like Mumbai and New Delhi badly, but is now increasing in smaller cities and rural areas.
New government guidelines ordered schools and universities to remain closed, but students can voluntarily meet with teachers on school premises if necessary.
The government has resisted a massive campaign by students to postpone entrance exams to medical and engineering schools that are due to take about two million students next month.
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A health worker takes a swab from a police officer for a rapid antigen test at a special testing center for Gujarat police in Ahmedabad, India, on August 17, 2020 (Photo: Reuters / Amit Dave) .
Students say they fear contracting the virus in exam rooms across the country. Authorities say they are taking special measures for the tests.
The government also said individual states could not impose blanket closures outside areas that are considered ‘containment zones’ where clusters of cases have been reported. Several states have imposed tougher measures in recent weeks due to the increase in cases.
The main opposition party in Congress has called on the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to put in place a firm plan to stop the spread of the pandemic.
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