Covid-19 in India: Daily cases keep breaking records

India's daily coronavirus cases yesterday rose by a record for the fifth time this week and deaths surged to the highest in more than five months, with hospitals and crematoriums overflowing in parts of the country. 

New cases in the world's second-most populous country have totalled the most of anywhere in the world over the last two weeks. India's overall tally of 13.21 million is the third-highest globally, just shy of Brazil and below the worst affected country, the United States.

After a lockdown a year ago caused widespread misery and one of the sharpest downturns of any major economy, the central government is desperate to avoid a hugely unpopular second shutdown.

But many states are tightening the screw, in particular Maharashtra and its capital Mumbai, where restaurants are shut and public gatherings of more than five people are banned.

Every weekend until the end of April the state's 125 million people are confined to their homes unless shopping for food, medicine or travelling.

Mega cities such as Mumbai, the country's financial centre and Maharashtra's capital, and the national capital of New Delhi have also imposed nightly curfews until the end of April.

India reported 145,384 new Covid-19 cases and 794 deaths, the Health Ministry reported. The country breached the 100,000 mark for the first time on Monday. Only the United States has reported more cases in a day since the pandemic began over a year ago.

Despite that, Prime Minister Modi again addressed an election rally crowded with thousands of people, many without masks, in the eastern state of West Bengal.

The government has blamed the resurgence mainly on crowding and a reluctance to wear masks as businesses across the country have reopened since February, only to be partially shut again to control the current surge.

The surge in cases comes as India yesterday became the fastest country in the world to achieve the 100 million Covid-19 vaccination mark, reported our New Delhi correspondent.

The cumulative number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered to people across India stood at 10,12,84,282 as per the provisional report at 8:00 pm Indian time, a feat achieved on the 85th day of the vaccination drive since its launch on January 16, the Health Ministry said. 

A broader comparison with other countries on their achievements on the 85th Day reaffirms the fact that India has the highest rate of vaccination per day, it said in a statement.

The USA administered 92.09 million doses in 85 days and China's vaccination coverage was 61.42 million in 85 days, according to the Health Ministry.

India is faster compared to the USA and China which vaccinated 100 million in 89 days and 103 days respectively.

India recently expanded the vaccine coverage to those above 45 years along as well as allowing them to get vaccinated at their workplaces (govt and private).

However many states have complained of a vaccine shortage though immunisations are currently restricted to only about 400 million of India's 1.35 billion people.

The health minister said on Thursday the government had more than 43 million doses in stock or in the pipeline, which may be enough for only about 10 days going by the immunisation trend.

India is using the AstraZeneca Inc's shot and another developed at home by Bharat Biotech.