India has registered a record new nearly 79,000 coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, the worst single-day spike in the world, as the government continues to further ease pandemic restrictions nationwide.
The surge has raised the country’s total virus tally to over 3.5 million and comes at a time when India is reopening its subway networks and allowing sports and religious events in a limited manner from next month as part of efforts to revive the economy.
Aayush Mittal, a doctor working at a COVID-19 isolation centre, fears there may be many more undetected cases as fewer people are opting to get tested due to the disease becoming a bit of a taboo.
"In the Indian scenario, people are treating this less as a medical condition and more as a social taboo. So people are just not getting tested. If one person is found to be (COVID-19) positive, then the other six in his house are also positive. But, when that one person goes out in society and finds out that people are almost treating him as untouchable, then others don't get tested due to fear of similar treatment. But they are also positive and when they go out they infect others also.”
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
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