Coronavirus India Updates: Surpasses Spain To Rank Fifth In Covid-19 Tally 

India’s burgeoning coronavirus cases have surpassed Spain’s tally to rank fifth in the number of infections, a day before Asia’s third-largest economy begins its first phase of unwinding the stay-at-home restrictions.

The world’s second-most populous nation added 9,971 fresh cases in last 24 hours, taking the total tally to 246,628, according to the health ministry’s update as of 8 a.m. on June 7. This includes 6,929 deaths and 119,293 patients who have recovered.

Over the last 24 hours, India has seen 287 deaths and 5,220 recoveries.

• Total confirmed cases: 246,628
• Number of fresh cases in last 24 hours: 9,971
• Total number of active cases: 120,406
• Total patients cured/discharged/migrated: 119,293
• Total deaths: 6,929

Indian authorities have now reported more than 9,000 fresh cases for four straight days.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, a total of 4,666,386 samples have been tested as of 9 a.m. on June 7. Of these, 142,069 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours.

India’s mounting coronavirus cases have already surpassed the count of France, Germany and China—the nation where the pandemic actually began—among others. On Saturday, India even surged past Italy’s tally, and is now behind the U.S., Brazil, Russia, and the U.K.

Even as confirmed cases continue to mount in India, the lockdown will be lifted in phases from June 8. Malls, restaurants and religious places will be allowed to open as the government aims to the economy that’s headed for its first full-year contraction in more than four decades. The economy was already growing at its slowest pace in over a decade when the virus struck. The lockdown, effective March 25, made it worse, stalling all business activity. Some states like Maharshtra, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab have extended the isolation restrictions but with some relaxations.

Global update

Globally, cases topped 6.8 million, including 398,000 deaths.

China reported six new coronavirus cases on June 6, five of which it said were imported. South Korea reported 57 news cases over a timespan of 24 hours.

U.S. coronavirus cases increased 1.3% from the same time Friday to 1.91 million, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University and Bloomberg News. Deaths rose 0.7% to 109,497.

Portugal reported 382 new cases on Saturday, above 300 for a fourth day and taking the total to 34,351. There are 12,070 active cases.

The U.K. government is considering easing lockdown measures for pubs, restaurants and weddings, earlier than originally envisaged, in an attempt to avert a potential summer jobs crisis in the hospitality industry, the Sunday Times reported.

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