This archive report was first published on 1 July 2020.
India is grappling with a severe coronavirus outbreak, with nearly 600,000 infections and 17,000 deaths reported so far.
On June 15, a 26-year-old software engineer got married in Bihar state, despite showing symptoms of the deadly virus. He died two days later, with nearly 200 people attending his funeral.
So far, 111 people who attended the wedding or funeral have tested positive for coronavirus, according to Raj Kishor Chaudhary, chief medical officer in Patna, the state capital.
‘So far 111 people who either attended the wedding or the funeral have tested positive,’ Chaudhary said.
‘All others have been identified and isolated.’
Doctors are not certain if the groom was the source of the infection, as he was cremated before tests could be carried out.
However, Chaudhary said around 400 people who attended the wedding or funeral would be isolated following a spurt in infections.
The groom had returned home from near New Delhi only a week before the wedding and had shown symptoms before the nuptials.
He was briefly admitted to hospital, but his family had him discharged and hosted the wedding with over 300 guests.
Authorities have launched an investigation into possible violations of social distancing regulations on the number of guests at both the wedding and funeral.
India's government has eased lockdown restrictions despite a surge in cases, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi has warned the nation to be more cautious.
‘We have become lackadaisical,’ Modi said. ‘I again want you all to observe precautions in the same way as under lockdown.’
