India has more infections than Russia as virus cases surge

India has surpassed Russia to become the country with the world’s third-highest number of infections, as scientists questioned whether a promised August vaccine deadline could be met.

More than 697,400 cases have been recorded in India, a rise of 24,000 in 24 hours, the health ministry said, while Russia has just more than 681,000.

The surge has forced some cities to tighten restrictions: including Kolkata, which halted flights from other major Indian cities yesterday. It has set up containment zones in recent days.

Officials reversed a decision to reopen the Taj Mahal, in the city of Agra yesterday, following a spate of new cases in the area. The news came as India’s attempt to launch a Covid-19 vaccine by next month was met with scepticism by some scientists.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), India’s premier biomedical research body, had announced a Covid-19 vaccine would be ready for public use by August 15.

Dr Balram Bhargava, director general of the body, sent a letter to 12 hospitals selected for the clinical trial of the vaccine, Covaxin, telling them that development of the vaccine should be seen as a top priority.

But the ICMR has come under criticism from scientists, who say the deadline is ‘‘impossible’’ to meet and could put pressure on regulators to approve the vaccine before it has been fully tested.

The head of one of the 12 institutes contacted by the ICMR, speaking on condition on anonymity, said: ‘‘This is just impossible. We can’t do it by August 15. I’m sure ICMR doesn’t mean it.’’

– Telegraph Group