NEW DELHI:India on Monday reported the number of coronavirus cases in the country had passed six million, as the pandemic rages across the vast South Asian nation.
With 6.1 million infections according to the health ministry, India is on course to pass the United States in the coming weeks as the country with the most cases.
It has also recorded close to 100,000 deaths.
The nation of 1.3 billion people is home to some of the world's most densely populated cities and has long been expected to record a large number of Covid-19 cases.
India has been adding 80,000 to 90,000 fresh infections each day since it started reporting the world's highest daily rises from late August.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called on people to keep wearing face coverings when they venture outside of their homes.
"These rules are weapons in the war against corona. They are potent tools to save the life of every citizen," Modi said in his monthly radio address.
The virus initially hit major metropolises including the financial hub Mumbai and national capital New Delhi, but has since spread to regional and rural areas where healthcare systems are fragile and patchy.
Despite the continued march of the illness, the government is unlikely to reimpose the lockdown it has gradually lifted, after the harsh restrictions battered the economy and wrecked the livelihoods of millions of people, particularly the poor.
Some schools have reopened, and trains, metros, domestic flights, markets and restaurants have been allowed to operate with restrictions.
Anand Krishnan, a community medicine professor at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi, said the focus should be on treating people who contract the virus.
"The infection is well-entrenched in the community," he told AFP.
"The only thing that we can do is take care of people who are ill -- identify them faster and treat them better. And follow the social-distancing norms. Beyond that, I don't think there is anything specific that can be done."
Some locals AFP spoke to in Delhi said while they remained cautious, their fears about the pandemic had lessened since the start earlier this year.
"I'm out of the house all day because of my work. I don't step out of the house for anything else," said 23-year-old medical store worker Umang Chutani.
"The future is uncertain but one can only be cautious and follow all safety protocols."
Himanshu Kainthola, 61, who recovered from the virus last month after testing positive with two other relatives, said his family's fears "have reduced substantially".
"We have made peace with it. We take the necessary precautions and invest in increasing our immunity rather than being anxious or scared of it."
Creative writing student Santosh added that the virus was now "part of our lives".
"You cannot shutdown every business, because the economy cannot collapse... Covid-19 is not going to pay the rent," he told AFP.
AFP RELAXNEWS
Mon Sep 28 2020
A man is tested for coronavirus in Ghaziabad, India. AFPRelaxpic
IShowSpeed tiba di KL, terima baju batik daripada peminat
Speed menerima hadiah daripada beberapa orang peminat Malaysia ketika kenderaannya berhenti di lampu isyarat di ibu negara pada Selasa,
Penyanyi Sean Diddy ditangakp di New York
Penerbit muzik terkenal, Puff Daddy atau lebih dikenali sebagai Sean Diddy Combs yang berdepan dengan beberapa tuduhan serangan seksual telah diberkas di Manhatann, New York oleh ejen persekutuan pada Isnin waktu tempatan.
10 maut, puluhan cedera bas Iran terbalik
Menurut angka awal, kemalangan itu mengakibatkan 10 maut dan 41 cedera.
Malaysia perlu melabur dalam infrastruktur
Pengarah Eksekutif Ukrainian Prism, Hennadiy Maksak berpandangan, Malaysia juga tidak boleh bergantung kepada satu laluan, selain menjalin hubungan yang baik dengan negara-negara jiran.
Lebih 1,000 rakyat termasuk pejuang Hezbollah cedera parah
Lebih seribu rakyat Lubnan termasuk anggota pejuang Hezbollah dan petugas perubatan cedera parah dalam satu letupan pada Selasa.
Tetingkap Tunggal Nasional memudahkan operasi perdagangan antara Malaysia dan China
Menteri Pelaburan, Perdagangan dan Industri (MITI), Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz berpendapat inisiatif Tetingkap Tunggal Nasional (National single window) yang bakal diharmonikan Bersama system kastam China akan memudahkan operasi perniagaan dan perdagangan (ease of doing business) antara Malaysia dan China.
Medan selera perlu ditambah baik, kemudahan asas tidak lengkap
Air bergenang di lantai dan tempias sehingga meja makan mengakibatkan pengunjung basah. Itu situasi apabila keadaan hujan lebat di Medan Selera Taman Makmur di dalam Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Mahkota yang menempatkan deretan 12 kedai makan.
Calon manfaat platform media sosial dekati pengundi luar
Kempen Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Mahkota turut memberi tumpuan kepada penggunaan media sosial bagi menambat hati pengundi luar selain kempen secara bersemuka.
Seorang wanita maut jatuh lubang saluran air
Seorang wanita maut selepas terjatuh ke dalam lubang saluran air sedalam dua meter ketika menyertai aktiviti mendaki di Bukit Cherok Tok Kun pada Selasa.
Kerja pembersihan sisa kimia dijalankan pada Selasa
Kerja-kerja pembersihan sisa bahan kimia yang dibuang secara haram di Kawasan Perindustrian Tiong Nam dan Kawasan Perindustrian Tropika, Johor bermula pada Selasa.
India rekod kes virus mpox
Virus berkenaan dikesan daripada seorang lelaki yang baru pulang dari negara terjejas.
India lancar peluru berpandu Agni-4
India pada Jumaat melaksanakan pelancaran peluru berpandu balistik jarak sederhana (IRBM) Agni-4 di luar pantai negeri Odisha.
RUU perogol dihukum mati, penjara seumur hidup di India
Dewan Perhimpunan Bengal Barat, India meluluskan RUU untuk mengenakan hukuman mati dan penjara seumur hidup ke atas perogol yang mengakibatkan kematian atau kesan psikologi terhadap mangsa.
Kerjasama Malaysia dengan Rusia, China, India beri manfaat kepada ekonomi - PM Anwar
Kerjasama dengan Rusia, China dan India akan memberi manfaat kepada ekonomi Malaysia, kata Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Tiga hilang selepas helikopter Pengawal Pantai India terhempas di Laut Arab
Tiga kru dilaporkan hilang selepas sebuah helikopter Pengawal Pantai India terhempas di Laut Arab berhampiran pantai Gujarat pada malam Isnin.
Diplomasi ekonomi Malaysia-India langkah pengukuhan ASEAN - Pakar
Malaysia terus memperkukuh hubungan dua hala dengan negara serantau termasuk India, melalui pelbagai inisiatif ekonomi dan pelancongan.
Biar isu ekstradisi Zakir Naik reda seketika - PM Anwar
Anwar berkata adalah lebih baik isu melibatkan ekstradisi Dr Zakir Naik reda seketika, selagi ia tidak menjejaskan hubungan Malaysia-India.
Malaysia ketuai koordinasi perbincangan semakan FTA ASEAN-India November ini - Tengku Zafrul
Malaysia akan mengetuai koordinasi antara negara ASEAN dan India bagi mengadakan perbincangan untuk meningkatkan aspek perjanjian perdagangan bebas (FTA) antara kedua-dua pihak.
Malaysia jangka pertumbuhan perdagangan dengan India meningkat
PM beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada MITI untuk kemuka rancangan yang jelas bagi kerjasama dengan India dalam sektor perdagangan dan pelaburan.
Hubungan baik dengan India, cepatkan Malaysia menjadi negara maju - Pakar
Hubungan yang baik dengan India akan membantu mempercepatkan Malaysia menjadi sebuah negara maju.