India coronavirus cases pass eight million mark

India on Thursday passed eight million coronavirus cases, with the world’s second-worst-hit country bracing for a possible second wave ahead of winter and a series of religious festivals.   

There have now been 8,040,203 cases and 120,527 deaths across the country of 1.3 billion people, according to the latest Indian government figures.   

Authorities fear a new surge after the country’s most important religious festival on November 14 -Diwali- and are preparing for it.   

 “All states need to be careful during the coming festive season.” Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said in a recent statement.   

A stringent lockdown imposed in March has gradually been eased as the government seeks to reboot the economy after the loss of millions of jobs nationwide. But experts say this has helped spread Covid-19.   

New Delhi recorded 5,000 new cases on Wednesday, its highest daily figure since the outbreak of the pandemic. Officials have warned that the capital could see more than 10,000 cases a day in the next wave.   

Experts have said crowds gathering for Diwali and other festivals, colder temperatures and the annual winter pollution crisis could worsen the impact of coronavirus cases in Delhi.  
NEW DELHI (AFP), 
Oct 29, 2020