COVID-19: India reports smaller rise in daily infections

On May 15, 2021

India reported a smaller rise in daily COVID-19 infections with deaths stayed near 4,000 on Saturday.

Director general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus’s remarks to an online meeting came after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sounded the alarm over the rapid spread of the disease through the vast countryside.

“The second year of the pandemic was set to be more deadly than the first, with India a huge concern,” WHO said.

Over the past 24 hours, India had 326,098 new coronavirus infections for its lowest rise in nearly three weeks, taking the tally to 24.37 million, along with 3,890 deaths.

But the slow growth may reflect lower test rates, which are at their lowest since May 9.

Cases have fallen steadily in states hit by an initial surge in infections, such as the richest state of Maharastra and the northern state of Delhi, after they imposed stringent lockdowns.

Infections in Modi’s western home state of Gujarat fell below 10,000 after four straight weeks.

Officials warned against any relaxation in curbs until they return to levels seen before the breakout of India’s second wave in mid-February.

Kamila/Reuters

COVID-19