Indian hospitals are struggling to cope with a surge in coronavirus cases as a sluggish vaccination programme fails to curb a second wave.
Infections fell below 9,000 a day in early February from a peak of almost 100,000 in September, but this month there was a fourfold rise in infections.
More than 43,000 cases were recorded on Saturday, the highest daily rise since November, taking the total tally to 11.6 million.
India has the third-highest caseload after the US and Brazil. At least six of India’s 28 states and eight union territories promised to impose new curfews.
Maharashtra state is experiencing particularly grim case numbers, with five big cities, including Mumbai, recording thousands every day.
On Saturday the state recorded 27,000 cases in its highest single-day figure since the pandemic hit the country in January 2020.
Local authorities in Mumbai said they would perform random Covid-19 tests at public places such as malls and railway stations starting on Monday, even without residents' consent.
They said failure to co-operate would result in criminal prosecution.
Hospitals across the city – the country’s financial centre and home to about 20 million residents – are coping with a deluge of patients as many centres closed Covid-care wards when the number of cases dipped.
Hospital admissions have doubled and the government plans to increase the number of beds to cope with a surge.
"The number of cases have more than doubled in the last three weeks," Dr Hemant Deshmukh, dean of King Edward Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, told The National.
"[In February] the hospital had 20 patients. Now it has doubled to 46.
“We are anticipating 5,000 cases a day by the end of this month because of increased tests.”
The cities of Pune, Nagpur and Thane imposed full or partial lockdowns.
Experts say the sudden resurgence is a direct result of mass disregard for preventive measures such as wearing masks and social distancing, combined with new virus strains and a sluggish inoculation programme.
“There is a loss of Covid-appropriate behaviour and people felt that the pandemic is over because vaccines are here,” said Dr Randeep Guleria, a member of India’s National Covid Task Force.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week said quick and decisive steps were needed to halt an emerging second peak.
India imposed a months-long lockdown in March 2020 that slowed infection rates but caused a recession.
The government gradually relaxed prohibitions, leading to growth in commercial and social activity.
India’s Health Ministry warned on Sunday that a major religious event in northern city of Haridwar could become a breeding ground for the infection.
It urged local government to increase testing and enforce Covid-19 preventive guidelines.
About five million Hindu pilgrims have attended the Kumbh Mela festival and an equal number was expected in the city in coming weeks.
Dr Shahid Jameel, a virologist, said the country must not rely on its vaccination programme to defeat the virus.
India needs to enforce preventive measures to curb the rise of infections and halt a nationwide second wave, said Dr Jameel, director of Trivedi School of Biosciences at Ashoka University in Haryana, told The National.
“There is definitely a second wave in some states but others may follow,” he said.
“What would help most is a behavioural change. People must wear masks and wear them properly.
"They must also avoid crowded places and large gatherings should be discouraged."
Dr Jameel said universal vaccination in such a short period was impossible mainly because of vaccine shortages.
Coronavirus around the world: in pictures
-
Tourists sing outside a bar as the curfew starts on March 20, 2021 in Madrid. Whilst Covid-19 infections remain high, the Spanish capital has relatively relaxed restrictions with bars and restaurants open since late 2020 - compared to Italy, France and the rest of Spain. Madrid's economy grew by 4.4 per cent in the last quarter of 2020, creating one out of three jobs in Spain. Getty Images -
US navy veteran Ronnie Jackson, of Blakeslee, Pennsylvania, receives a Covid-19 vaccine from nurse Fran McLean at the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Centre. AP -
An Ohio University fan celebrates the Ohio Bobcats victory against the Virginia Cavaliers in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, as Covid-19 restrictions are eased in Athens, Ohio, on March 20, 2021. Reuters -
People walk on the street as the 7pm curfew starts in Paris, France, on Saturday, March 20, 2021. The French government has refrained from ordering a tough lockdown for Paris and several other regions despite an increasingly alarming situation at hospitals with a rise in the number of Covid-19 patients. AP -
People dance during a protest against lockdown measures during the third wave of the pandemic on March 20, 2021 in Kassel, Germany. Activists came from across the country to call for what organisers hail as "freedom, peace and democracy." Germany has large numbers of very vocal coronavirus sceptics who see lockdown measures as governmental tyranny. Getty Images -
Police officers break up a demonstration on March 20, 2021 in Kassel, Germany. Getty Images -
Supporters of RCD Espanyol cheer for their team during the Liga Smartbank match against UD Logrones in Barcelona, Spain. Stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions as social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. Getty Images -
A health worker takes a nasal swab sample of a staff member to test for Covid-19 inside the Government Polytechnic College campus in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-administered Kashmir, on March 20, 2021. India recorded over 40,000 new coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours, the highest daily spike since November last year, bringing the total infections to over 11 million people. EPA -
Women wear face masks as they ride a motorcycle in Lahore, Pakistan, on March 20. EPA -
Taiwanese people wear face masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus in Taipei. AP -
A large crowd gathers on a walkway near the beach, during spring break in Miami Beach, Florida. The city of Miami Beach is imposing a curfew for its entertainment district. Officials will also close the three causeways heading into the beach. The measures are being put into place as an effort to control large crowds that have gathered during spring break. EPA
India approved two locally made vaccines to use in the world’s biggest vaccination drive in January. It pledged to inoculate 300 million by the end of July.
But the programme remains open only to select groups, including health workers, people aged above 60 and those 45 and older who have chronic health problems.
Many have skipped the voluntary programme, with only half of the country’s 10 million health workers taking the shots.
So far, about 40 million shots have been administered, covering only 2.3 per cent of India’s total population.
This has sparked scepticism, particularly over the government’s policy to export and donate vaccines globally despite a huge spurt of Covid-19 cases.
India has exported 60 million Covid vaccines, including “gifts” under its “vaccine diplomacy” policy, almost 50 per cent more than its domestic use.
