India surpasses Russia to become third worst-affected country by Covid-19
Words by Sanjay Jha, ITV News, Delhi
India has surpassed Russia as the country with the third-highest number of coronavirus cases in the world after recording 24,248 new patients cases in one day.
A further 23,000 new cases were added on Monday, taking India’s total to 697,000 and almost 20,000 deaths with a recovery rate of almost 61%.
Earlier on Sunday India racked up nearly 25,000 cases, its highest daily total.
The increase in cases took India past Russia as the third highest total in the world, behind Brazil with 1.6m cases and the United States with 2.88m.
With cases gradually increasing in Kerala, the state government issued new guidelines which will could be in force until July 2021.
This means people must wear masks, keep social distancing and avoid large gatherings for a year, or else face penalties under the law.
The Indian government has decided not to go ahead with the planned reopening of the Taj Mahal, which has been closed to visitors since March.
On Sunday, local authorities issued a new advisory, ordering an extension of lockdown restrictions on monuments in and around Delhi.
The city of 25 million has emerged as India's biggest COVID-19 hotspot and authorities have feared that cases could record more than half a million by the end of the month.
India opened one of the world's largest hospitals to help treat coronavirus patients in the capital.
A spiritual centre was converted into a sprawling isolation facility and hospital with 10,000 beds in just 10 days.
Many of the beds are made of cardboard and chemically coated to make them waterproof.
About the size of 20 football fields, the facility on the outskirts of Delhi will treat mild cases.
The hospital will be cooled by 18,000 tonnes of air-conditioning units and its mud floors covered by carpets and topped with vinyl sheets for easy cleaning.