• June 04, 2020
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India breaches 200,000 mark in COVID-19 cases

Coronavirus cases continue to rise in India as the country has breached the 200,000 mark in confirmed infections Wednesday, 3 June. Within 24 hours, the highly populous nation logged 8,909 new cases – one of the largest daily increases so far – that has brought the total to 207,615, according to figures from its health ministry. The death toll stood at 5,815 when the figures were released.

What makes the situation troubling is that the peak remains far from sight. “We are very far away for the peak,” said Nivedita Gupta, a doctor affiliated with the government-run Indian Council of Medical Research. Earlier official estimates peg the peak to arrive mid to late June or even July.

India’s mortality rate has been comparably low, though it still ranks seventh in the number of confirmed cases globally. The infections are on the rise as well amid the easing of its nationwide lockdown that began in March. With migrant workers returning home, worries of new infection clusters are piling up.

Despite the situation, Gupta believes that India has done well in containing the virus. “Our preventive measures have been very effective. We are in a much better position vis-à-vis other countries,” she said.