India records massive surge in COVID-19 cases as nation struggles to reopen - NEWS.com.au

DELHI, INDIA - DECEMBER 19: An Indian health official uses a swab to collect sample from a woman to conduct tests for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), as India crossed 10 million Covid-19 cases, becoming the second nation in the world after the US to reach the grim milestone, on December 19, 2020 in Delhi, India.

In January, this year, India reported its first Covid-19 case though the first case of the deadly infection globally had been reported in China in December of 2019.

The latest figure marks a new daily record for the subcontinent nation, which has registered 13.53 million confirmed cases of the coronavirus since the global outbreak last year.

The nation now has 9,842 cases per million, which is still a far cry from the US, which has 31.9 million confirmed cases at a rate of 96,143 per million.

A municipal worker distributes food packets to Covid-19 coronavirus patients at a badminton stadium being used as a treatment centre.Source:Getty Images.

DELHI, INDIA - An Indian health official uses a swab to collect sample from a woman to conduct tests for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).Source:Getty Images.

The latest rise in cases has seen India labelled as the globe’s new COVID-19 epicentre, after officials discovered a mutant “double strain” in Maharashtra, which is home to India’s financial capital of Mumbai.

DELHI, INDIA - Crowds of Indians with and without protective face masks walk in a street.Source:Getty Images.

The health ministry said the surge in cases has led to a “sudden spike in demand”