COVID-19 cases in India as of October 2023, by type
India reported over 44 million confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) as of October 20, 2023. The number of people infected with the virus was declining across the south Asian country.
What is the coronavirus?
COVID-19 is part of a large family of coronaviruses (CoV) that are transmitted from animals to people. The name COVID-19 is derived from the words corona, virus, and disease, while the number 19 represents the year that it emerged. Symptoms of COVID-19 resemble that of the common cold, with fever, coughing, and shortness of breath. However, serious infections can lead to pneumonia, multi-organ failure, severe acute respiratory syndrome, and even death, if appropriate medical help is not provided.
COVID-19 in India
India reported its first case of this coronavirus in late January 2020 in the southern state of Kerala. That led to a nation-wide lockdown between March and June that year to curb numbers from rising. After marginal success, the economy opened up leading to some recovery for the rest of 2020. In March 2021, however, the second wave hit the country causing record-breaking numbers of infections and deaths, crushing the healthcare system. The central government has been criticized for not taking action this time around, with "#ResignModi" trending on social media platforms in late April. The government's response was to block this line of content on the basis of fighting misinformation and reducing panic across the country.
What is the coronavirus?
COVID-19 is part of a large family of coronaviruses (CoV) that are transmitted from animals to people. The name COVID-19 is derived from the words corona, virus, and disease, while the number 19 represents the year that it emerged. Symptoms of COVID-19 resemble that of the common cold, with fever, coughing, and shortness of breath. However, serious infections can lead to pneumonia, multi-organ failure, severe acute respiratory syndrome, and even death, if appropriate medical help is not provided.
COVID-19 in India
India reported its first case of this coronavirus in late January 2020 in the southern state of Kerala. That led to a nation-wide lockdown between March and June that year to curb numbers from rising. After marginal success, the economy opened up leading to some recovery for the rest of 2020. In March 2021, however, the second wave hit the country causing record-breaking numbers of infections and deaths, crushing the healthcare system. The central government has been criticized for not taking action this time around, with "#ResignModi" trending on social media platforms in late April. The government's response was to block this line of content on the basis of fighting misinformation and reducing panic across the country.
