Home ›› 05 May 2020 ›› World Biz
India recorded its highest increase in daily cases of Covid-19 yet, according to the country’s health ministry. A further 3,900 fresh infections were reported in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 46,433.
The uptick in numbers follows an increase in testing, with more than 80,000 carried out on Monday.
The rise also comes as India moves to ease the lockdown, begun on 24 March to help curb the spread of the virus, in some parts of the country.
This has seen the opening of standalone shops, the re-opening of workplaces with reduced staffing, and the return of private vehicles in some areas. Public transport remains banned.
None of the new guidelines on relaxation apply to areas with high levels of infection that have been designated as containment zones.
India, the world's second most populous country, still has relatively few cases, suggesting the government's lockdown strategy may have been a success.
However, experts have warned that easing the restrictions too early could result in India losing much or all of the gains it made during the lockdown.
With the economy in distress and millions of Indians lacking a source of income, many feel the country has had little choice but to start opening up again.
As in other countries, testing will be vital to curbing the spread. India, which had one of the lowest testing rates in the world, has made efforts to increase its testing capacity. Health officials hope to soon begin testing around 100,000 samples a day.
(Source: BBC)
