Until the beginning of March, India was experiencing a relatively good situation with the COVID-19 pandemic. However, several events in the past few weeks significantly contributed to the unprecedented spread of the virus. The Indian Ministry of Health announced another record of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the past 24 hours, with 379,257 infections and 3,645 deaths.
World Health Organization experts and senior doctors stated that large gatherings played a crucial role in the massive increase in COVID-19 cases and deaths in India. During this time, Hindus celebrated a religious festival that lasted several weeks starting from March 11, where over 3 million people gathered along the banks of the Ganges River. Hindus believe that bathing in the "sacred river" washes away their sins, and this occasion is celebrated approximately every 12 years.
Regional governments across the country urged those who participated in the celebration to isolate themselves and get tested for COVID-19, but their appeals did not receive the necessary response from the population. Electoral gatherings also attracted large crowds in India, with social distancing absent. Several Indian states held elections in March and April, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi led his party's campaigns through rallies that attracted large numbers of supporters.
The rise in COVID-19 cases led the Supreme Court to blame the Election Commission of India for allowing voting to continue during the pandemic outbreak. The Indian government reported that over 200,000 people have died due to the coronavirus so far, although many believe the actual number is much higher. Earlier in April, the daily new cases in Delhi began to rise dramatically, doubling every six days. Last week, a record of over 280,000 cases was reported in a single day, followed by a series of records that surpassed the 300,000 daily mark.
