Coronavirus: India cases third highest globally

24,000 confirmed infections reported within 24 hours take country total to 700,000

NEW DELHI: India yesterday overtook Russia to become the country with the third-highest coronavirus caseload, as officials warned hospitals in the United States were in danger of being overwhelmed by a surge in infections.

Despite signs of progress in parts of Europe, total global infections are fast approaching 11.5 million, with more than 533,000 deaths.

The Indian government – like many around the world – has gradually lifted virus restrictions to help the battered economy, but the number of cases has continued to climb, with 24,000 reported in 24 hours to take the total to nearly 700,000 yesterday.

India’s major cities including New Delhi and Mumbai are the hardest-hit, and critics say too few tests are being conducted and that many Covid-19 infections are likely to go undiagnosed.

The surge has forced authorities in India to convert hotels, wedding halls, a spiritual centre and even railway coaches to help provide care to coronavirus patients.

And in Australia, where the virus outbreak had largely been brought under control, a new spike in cases in Melbourne forced authorities to effectively seal off the state of Victoria from the rest of the country.

There was an illustration of the lingering threat of the virus in Fiji, with the Pacific nation confirming yesterday its 78-day run without any cases had ended with a 66-year-old man testing positive.

The US – the worst-hit nation – has struggled to respond to the devastation wrought by the virus, with its national death toll rising to nearly 130,000 out of 2.8 million confirmed cases, and many states hit by increasing infections after lockdowns were eased.

Hospital beds are full in parts of Texas, while calls for fresh stay-at-home orders are growing.

Some mayors have said their cities reopened too early, as President Donald Trump tried to downplay the disease.

“If we don’t change the trajectory, within two weeks our hospitals (will be) overrun,” Austin mayor Steve Adler told CNN.

The US is now recording about 40,000 new cases a day. – AFP