Coronavirus digest: India sets new world record for cases

India on Sunday registered a record new 78,761 coronavirus cases, the highest single-day spike globally since the pandemic began.

The surge raised the country's tally to over 3.5 million and came as the government announced that New Delhi's subway can reopen on September 7.

One of the reasons for the spike is testing: India now conducts nearly 1 million tests every day, compared with just 200,000 two months ago.

Brazil on Saturday became the second country in the world, after the US, to register more than 120,000 deaths from coronavirus. Health experts are concerned about the slow and steady pace at which the South American country's pandemic is progressing.

Over 3.8 million infections have been registered in the country of 212 million, with 120,262 deaths. 

President Jair Bolsanoro has downplayed the threat of the coronavirus, despite being diagnosed himself in July, and has attacked mayors and governors who imposed strict lockdowns.

Read more: Opinion: Bolsonaro lets 100,000 die of COVID-19 in Brazil

Here's what else you need to know about the pandemic from around the world:

Americas

An outbreak in a prison in the US state of Hawaii has gotten worse, health officials confirmed. Four new cases have been reported at the Oahu Community Correction Center, bringing the total number of infections to over 200.

The Hawaii Supreme Court is grappling with how to deal with the outbreak, releasing some infecting prisoners into open spaces within the facilities.

The Native American Navajo nation reported 14 new confirmed cases and one more death, bringing the total number of dead to 500. Navajo officials have lifted stay-at-home orders but have repeated requests to residents to only go out for essentials and emergencies.

Asia

Indonesia, which is grappling with a surge in infections, recorded 2,858 new coronavirus cases and 82 more deaths on Sunday.

The Southeast Asian nation has tallied more than 172,000 cases and 7,343 deaths.

Operations resumed on Saturday at the world's biggest gold mine in the country's easternmost Papua region, after workers blocked access to the site in protest at being stopped from visiting their families.

More than 1,000 employees demonstrated at the mine's main entrance over the decision to cancel bus services to the city of Timika in response to fears about the spread of coronavirus infections.

Europe

Berlin, Zurich and London are among the European cities that saw widespread protests against coronavirus curbs on Saturday.The Berlin protest had over 18,000 participants but was shut down by police after physical distancing rules were not observed.

Read more: Thousands turn out in Berlin to protest coronavirus measures

Carnival festivities should not go ahead "as normal" this winter, the premier of Germany's most-populous state of North Rhine-Westphalia said. Carnival traditions often involve large parades and parties, kicking off in November and culminating in a long weekend in February each year.

"In this year of coronavirus we all need to give up certain things we hold dear," Armin Laschet told German newspaper Bild am Sonntag. He said he was in discussion with carnival societies about alternatives.

Hungary logged its highest-ever jump in COVID-19 cases on Sunday. The government said 292 new cases were reported within the past 24 hours — making it the highest daily increase since the pandemic began. Compared to its neighbors and other hard-hit countries around the world, Hungary has had a low infection rate. Experts have attributed the recent rise in cases with more lax attitudes to social distancing measures — particularly among the younger generation — as well as increased testing.

In the UK, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing political pushback over his government's coronavirus response and several policy U-turns in recent days. On Sunday, a new opinion poll published in The Observer showed Johnson's Conservatives polling on par with the opposition Labour Party for the first time in over a year, with both parties garnering 40%. The British government's approach to handling student's exams as well as backtracking on students wearing masks in school have sparked confusion and anger in recent weeks.

You can catch up on Saturday's digest here.

ed,rs/dj (AP, AFP, dpa, Reuters)