New Covid cases below 30,000; tally at a 129-day low

Two days after Diwali, India recorded the lowest number of fresh Covid-19 cases in 129 days, with the daily tally falling below 30,000 on Monday for the first time since July 13. The steep decline in the national count of cases over the past two days — Sunday’s number was 30,126 — can be attributed to low testing as well as Diwali festivities. On Saturday, the country had recorded more than 42,000 new infections.