India’s Covid-19 tally at 13 million after record 132,000 new infections
New Delhi, Apr 9 (EFE).- India’s overall coronavirus caseload crossed the 13 million mark Friday, with more than 100,000 cases registered for the third day in a row for the first time since the pandemic.
According to the federal health ministry, 131,968 new patients tested coronavirus positive in the last 24 hours since Thursday morning.
Deaths rose by 780, increasing the toll of 167,642.
The overall tally of India’s Covid-19 cases has mounted to 13.06 million, which is the third-highest in the world after the United States and Brazil.
The country recorded 115,269 cases Wednesday and 126,315 on Thursday.
As the second wave of the virus outbreak tightened its grip on the country, many states have imposed restrictions to partially limit the people’s movement in a bid to curb the spread.
The western state of Maharashtra, the worst-hit and which is home to India’s financial and entertainment capital of Mumbai, had imposed a night curfew last week.
There would be a weekend lockdown that will begin on Friday evening.
The national capital of New Delhi imposed night curfews from Tuesday.
Many other states ordered the nocturnal lockdowns on Thursday.
Experts partly attribute the spike in the number of daily coronavirus infections to people in the second-most populated country lowering their guard after cases slowed sharply last year’s end.
The government also allowed religious gatherings for festivals like the Kumbh Mela in the north of India that saw millions praying together and taking a dip in the Ganges river.
Spectators were also allowed to watch a cricket match between India and England in Gujarat while campaigning for state elections has also drawn huge crowds.
India has so far administered nearly 95 million vaccine shots since the inoculation drive began in January.
The country of 1.35 billion people plans to vaccinate 300 million before July this year. EFE
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