India has reported its highest number of coronavirus cases in four months, amid a worrying surge that has prompted multiple states to return to some form of restrictions on public gathering. The Health Ministry reported 43,846 new cases in the past 24 hours, the worst single-day increase since mid-November. The central Maharashtra state, home to India’s financial capital Mumbai, accounts for more than half of the new infections. India has so far reported more than 11.5 million cases of coronavirus infection, the world’s third-highest total after the United States and Brazil. The cases had been falling steadily since a peak in late September, but experts say increased public gatherings and laxity toward public health guidance is leading to the latest surge.

Source: Irish Independent March 21, 2021 07:52 UTC