India surpasses 20 million coronavirus infections: it registered 357,229 new cases in the last 24 hours

India surpassed 20 million coronavirus infections on Tuesday since the start of the pandemic, registering 357,229 new cases in the past 24 hours, in the midst of a virulent second wave that has put the Asian country’s healthcare system to the limit.

The country also recorded 3,449 deaths in 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths to 222,408 according to the latest data from India’s Ministry of Health., an official figure that many experts believe could actually be higher.

The new figures represent a drop for the third day in a row in the number of infections, but no deaths, after the Asian country crossed the 400,000 positive mark for the first time last Saturday.

India remains the second most affected country by the pandemic in the world in absolute terms, behind the United States, which already has 32.4 million infections according to statistics from Johns Hopkins University.

The Asian country is mired in a dizzying second wave of the virus, which has grown steadily since last February and has put its healthcare system to the limit, with oxygen shortages and beds in major cities like New Delhi .

More than 40 countries have started sending aid to India to cooperate in the fight against the pandemic, including ventilators and medical teams, in addition to oxygen generators, cylinders, concentrators and regulators.

The rise in cases has been attributed in the country to a relaxation of measures against the coronavirus by the population and the organization of mass events, such as huge electoral rallies in the context of several regional elections or the religious holiday. Kumbh Mela, the largest and most ancient religious congregations in the world.

The Indian “double mutant” variant B.1.617 and other strains could also be behind the sudden increase in cases in the country.Although at the moment virologists have pointed out that there is a lack of data to support this theory.

The Asian country sees the vaccination campaign as the main way out of this health crisis, especially after the new phase in which the beneficiaries have been extended to all over 18 years old, compared to those over 45 years old.

The new phase officially started last weekend despite the fact that many states were unable to start immunizing to the population in this age group due to a lack of dose.

India has administered 158 million vaccines so far, although the rate has slowed in recent weeks and in the past 24 hours the country has vaccinated 1.7 million people.

With information from EFE

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