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 — the fourth straight day above 60,000 — take India’s 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.
India coronavirus cases jump by record as tally nears 3 million
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Updated 22 August 2020
India coronavirus cases jump by record as tally nears 3 million
- The 69,878 new infections take India’s 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
