India to pass 3m cases as Hindus celebrate festival

India is about to reach 3m total confirmed cases of coronavirus, after a record single-day increase of more than 69,000.

The country has the third-highest number of infections in the world, after the US and Brazil. It also has the fourth-highest death toll.

However India's health ministry notes hat one million tests are being carried out every day, and that the rate of recovery had increased too.

“Early identification through testing, prompt and effective treatment through supervised home isolation and quality medical care, and innovative graded policy measures have resulted in almost 100% increase in recovered cases in the last 21 days,” the ministry tweeted.

The spike comes as Hindus celebrate one of their biggest festivals, Ganesh Chaturthi - a holiday that in normal years is celebrated with large public processions, after which idols of Ganesh are submerged in water.

Different states have released guidelines on how to celebrate the festival safely.

(BBC)