India’s virus cases top 6 million amid concerns over festivals

DPA, 28TH SEPTEMBER, 2020 - The number of Covid-19 cases in India topped 6 million on Monday amid concerns over the country’s upcoming religious festival season and polls in a populous state.

India’s total count of Covid-19 cases stands at 6,074,703, the federal Health Ministry said on Monday, with a spike of 82,170 cases in the past 24 hours.

The death toll rose to 95,542, after 1,039 deaths were recorded in the same period.

The pandemic is spreading faster in

India than anywhere else in the world, but in a respite, the seven-day average of new cases declined for nine days till September 26, the Times of India reported, citing data from European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

India is set to become the country worst hit by the pandemic by next month, overtaking the United States, where more than 7 million infections have been reported.

Authorities and doctors have warned about two key events in India next month – the beginning of the Hindu religious festival season that sees large congregations and busy markets as well as elections in Bihar state that has some 72 million voters.

Dussehra and Durga Puja are due in October and Diwali the festival of lights, Diwali, will be celebrated a month later.

India, the world’s second most populous country with 1.3 billion inhabitants was expected to record a huge number of cases after it eased a lockdown in mid-may to restart economic activity.