欧美文化:Indian PM reviews COVID-19 situation amid surge in cases

NEW DELHI, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level meeting with top officials on Sunday evening to review the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation in the country, officials said.

The meeting came in the backdrop of a sharp surge in daily infections across the country.

On Sunday morning, the country reported 159,632 new COVID-19 cases, which is over a five-fold increase since the beginning of the new year.

Local media reports said federal Home Minister Amit Shah, federal Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and other top officials were present at the meeting via video conference.

The last review meeting by Modi was held on Dec. 24 during which he urged officials to stay alert and vigilant.

Since then, the pandemic situation in the country has changed, with daily cases recording a sharp surge.

The increase in COVID-19 cases came at a time when five states, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Manipur and Uttarakhand will hold local elections over seven phases starting Feb. 10.

Uttar Pradesh is India's most populous state.

According to scientists, India is witnessing the third wave of the pandemic and the country may reach the peak of the wave by mid-Feb.