India coronavirus cases jump by record as tally nears 3 million

Reuters
A rickshaw puller rides along a street past closed shops after strict lockdown norms for weekends and public holidays were imposed as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Amritsar on August 22, 2020. (AFP)
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  • The 69,878 new infections take India鈥檚 total cases to 2.98 million
  • The spike in cases has piled pressure on authorities to curb huge gatherings as a major religious festival began

MUMBAI: India reported a record daily jump of coronavirus infections on Saturday, bringing the total near 3 million and piling pressure on authorities to curb huge gatherings as a major religious festival began.
The 69,878 new infections 鈥� the fourth straight day above 60,000 鈥� take India鈥檚 total cases to 2.98 million, behind only the United States and Brazil. COVID-19 deaths increased by 945 to 55,794, data from the federal health ministry showed.
For most of western India, especially the financial capital Mumbai, the 11-day festival of Hindu elephant-headed god Ganesh is usually celebrated with big public gatherings.
Cases have plateaued in Mumbai, which now averages just above 1,000 a day and has recorded more than 134,000 in total. But strict pandemic regulations have meant the festival season, which begins this month, has been lacklustre.

Topics: Coronavirus India