LUCKNOW (Reuters) – India on Monday reported a record 168,912 COVID-19 infections, the world’s highest, as worries about a further increase grew as hundreds of thousands of devotees gathered for a ritual bath in the Ganges -river.
India is now responsible for one in six daily infections worldwide. Monday’s new business brought it past Brazil, with a total amount of 13.53 million, according to data compiled by Reuters, which ranks second after the United States with 31.2 million.
The experts believe a second opening of India’s economy after last year’s paralyzing shutdown, mass religious festivals and political rallies in states holding elections.
In the northern city of Haridwar, nearly a million devotees flocked to the banks of the Ganges, a river considered by many Hindus to be sacred, to take part in the months-long ‘Kumbh Mela’ or crucifixion festival, and the risk of an increase in infections.
“The crowd here is waving … the police are appealing to people to maintain social distance,” police officer Sanjay Gunjyal told Reuters on the website.
Few wore masks as they dived into the water on a day considered auspicious in the Hindu calendar.
Authorities have made virus testing mandatory for those entering the area, where officials said they are struggling to stop crowds.
Elections will be held in four major states this month, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi traveling to the eastern state of West Bengal to address rallies that will attract thousands of people.
“With 1.2 million active cases, and the daily number is 200,000, it’s strange to have meetings and a full Kumbh Mela,” political commentator Shekhar Gupta said in a Twitter post.
‘It will take the virus deeper into towns and small towns. This is the disaster we escaped in the first wave with a crippling exclusion. Now we invite it back. ”
A death toll of 904 overnight was the highest since October 18, with the total figure at 170,179.
RICHEST GOVERNMENT PLANS DECIDE
Officials in the worst condition of Maharashtra, home of the financial capital of Mumbai, said they were considering a broader closure after major closures over the weekend.
The state, India’s industrial power station, picked up 63,294 new infections on Sunday, led by an increase in its key cities Mumbai, Nagpur and Pune.
“It is necessary to break the cycle (of infections),” said a senior government official who attended a meeting with state leaders on Sunday and sought anonymity.
“We are working to identify industries and services that need to be released.”
The state is among many who have demanded more doses of vaccinations for vaccination campaigns. India has injected more than 100 million doses since mid-January, the highest figure to the United States and China, but much lower than part of its population than in many countries.
As the number of cases increased, India banned the export of antiviral drug remdesivir and its active ingredients, which doctors used to treat patients.
(Global vaccination tracker: here)
(Interactive graphic tracking worldwide spread of coronavirus: here)
Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav, Saurabh Sharma; Additional reporting by Suchitra Mohanty and Rama Venkat; Written by Neha Arora; Edited by Sanjeev Miglani