India’s virus cases pass 4.6m after surge

India also reported another 1,201 deaths on Saturday, taking total fatalities to 77,472.

Infections are growing faster in India than anywhere else in the world and it is the second worst-hit country behind the United States. Experts say India’s limited and restrictive testing has masked the actual toll even as daily tests have been ramped up to more than 1 million.

The Health Ministry said that over three quarters of reported COVID-19 cases had either recovered or been discharged. The country’s recovery rate was at 77.7 per cent.

Meanwhile, cases in the western state of Maharashtra, home to financial capital Mumbai, have passed 1 million as the virus continues to surge unabated through its rural and urban areas.

Maharashtra is the worst affected state with more than 28,000 COVID-19 fatalities. That’s around 2.8 per cent of those with confirmed infections, well above the national mortality rate of nearly 1.7 per cent.

The pandemic has been economically devastating for India. Its economy contracted nearly 24 per cent in the second quarter, the worst among the world’s top economies.

Australian Associated Press