India records sharp increase in daily Covid-19 cases, several states report high numbers, and reasons behind surge include relaxed behavior and low testing rate. Mock drills conducted to check preparedness. Vaccination numbers reach 220.66 crore doses administered. Disease expected to become endemic.

India recorded a sharp rise in daily Covid-19 cases, with Maharashtra and Delhi reporting over 1,000 daily cases for the first time this year. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 4.42%, while the weekly positivity rate was 4.02%. The active cases now constitute 0.10% of the total infections. The Delhi Health Department reported one death, but the primary cause of death was not Covid, while the positivity rate stood at 23.8%. Nationwide mock drills were conducted to check the preparedness for the emergency Covid-19 situation at public and private health facilities. Eight Indian states, including Maharashtra and Delhi, are reporting a high number of coronavirus infections. According to the Indian Medical Association, the reasons behind the recent surge in Covid cases in India may be the relaxation of Covid-19 appropriate behavior, the low testing rate, and the emergence of a new variant of coronavirus infection. Covid cases in India are expected to rise for the next 10-12 days and will gradually come down as the disease is heading towards an endemic stage.