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India's coronavirus cases overtake UK to become fourth largest in the world

MUMBAI, INDIA - JUNE 11: Health workers conducting COVID-19 coronavirus testing drive inside the Dharavi slum, during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the spread of the coronavirus, on June 11, 2020 in Mumbai, India.  (Photo by Satyabrata Tripathy/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
India has overtaken the UK to become the country with the fourth largest number of coronavirus cases in the world. (Getty)

India’s number of coronavirus cases has soared by more than 10,000 in one day, making it the nation with the fourth largest number of cases in the world.

The country’s latest single-day spike of 10,956 saw India overtake the UK in number of cases.

The increase comes as India has started easing its lockdown, which is now only being enforced in high-risk areas.

A worker pulls a loaded cart into an alley in Fatehpuri Market after the government eased a nationwide lockdown imposed as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus in New Delhi on June 12, 2020. (Photo by XAVIER GALIANA / AFP) (Photo by XAVIER GALIANA/AFP via Getty Images)
India's lockdown has eased and is only being enforced in high-risk areas. (Getty)

India has allowed the reopening of shops, shopping centres, factories and religious places but schools, colleges, cinemas and subways remain closed.

India now has a total of 297,535 coronavirus cases, including 8,498 deaths, according to its Health Ministry.

Its number of confirmed cases is behind only the US, Brazil and Russia.

Balram Bhargava, director-general of the Indian Council of Medical Research, said the country’s two-month lockdown had kept transmissions low but with a population of 1.3bn, the fight against the virus is likely to go on for months.

He said Mumbai, New Delhi and Chennai are the worst-hit cities in the country, with urban residents having a greater chance of contracting the virus.

Infections in rural areas had also surged after migrant workers who left cities and towns having lost jobs returned to their home towns.

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