India asks 2 states to consider night curfew as virus cases rise

India has administered more than 611 million vaccine doses; over half of Indian adults had first vaccine dose; schools to partially resume in Delhi from Sept. 1

India has asked the states of Kerala and Maharashtra to consider night curfews in areas with high COVID-19 case numbers as the country reported more than 40,000 new infections for two days in a row on Friday.

Cases fell to a five-month-low of 25,166 in the middle of the month but have risen sharply in the last three days, mainly in Kerala that recently celebrated a big festival during which families typically come together.

India reported 44,658 new COVID-19 infections on Friday, taking the total to 32.6 million, the most in the world after the United States. Deaths rose by 496 to 436,861.

Kerala, on India’s southern tip, has accounted for nearly 60% of the new cases in the past week and more than half of the total active cases, followed by 16% in the western state of Maharashtra.

“More efforts would be required to arrest the increase in infections,” the Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement on Thursday evening after its secretary held a meeting with the two states.