2m virus cases in India with warning on Africa

THE number of confirmed coronavirus cases rose above two million in India today and passed the one million mark in Africa in the latest grim milestones for the global pandemic.

The figures came with the warning that the true toll in Africa is likely to be several times higher but a lack of testing means there are large numbers of undetected cases.

South Africa — where testing has been widespread — accounts for more than half of all confirmed cases on the continent. There have been more than 9,000 deaths. World Health Organisation

regional director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, warned that the lack of testing across Africa remains a “constant and concerning challenge”.

With many of the world’s weakest health systems, the African Union body dealing with the pandemic has said “aggressive and bold” action is needed.

India’s health ministry said today that 62,585 cases were reported in the past 24 hours, raising the nation’s total to 2,027,074. India is the third worst-affected country in the world behind the United States and Brazil.

There is concern around the spread of the virus to smaller towns and rural areas. The rate of cases in the world’s second-most populous country has quickly expanded since the government began lifting a lockdown, hoping to jumpstart its economy.

A University of Washington study said that US death toll could be as high as 300,000 by December if the leaders of large cities fail to drive through counter measures such as mask-wearing.

The team at the university’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation said 70,000 lives could be saved if more people wore face coverings.

More than 159,000 people have died in the US from Covid-19, latest figures show.