India reported 78,512 coronavirus infections on Monday, more than any other country but fewer than the previous day, when it posted the world’s biggest, single-day tally, as authorities looked to open more sectors of the economy.

On Sunday, India’s total of 78,761 new cases exceeded the previous global record of 77,299 in the US on July 16, a Reuters tally of official data showed.

The world’s second-most populous country has been posting the highest single-day caseload in the world since 7 Aug ust. At 3.62 million cases, India is fast catching up to the US and Brazil in terms of total cases but it has a lower death rate.

India’s coronavirus deaths went up by 971 in the past 24 hours, taking the tally to 64,469, the health ministry said. The huge numbers have got authorities worried, especially with people in rural areas largely abandoning rules aimed at stopping the spread, officials say.

Kumar Sanjay Krishna, the chief secretary of Assam, one of the worst-hit states, attributed the increasing cases to more testing, the opening of the economy and complacency.

“People are not following precautionary steps and are violating the Covid-19 protocols,” he said on Twitter.

“From Monday onwards there shall be visible strict action taken against those who violate the norms of social distancing or found not wearing a face mask.”

But at the same time, fears are growing for the world’s fifth-largest economy, with a contraction in gross domestic product for the June quarter expected to be announced later on Monday.

Hoping to avert more serious economic damage, the government is relaxing restrictions and has announced that urban metro trains can resume services from 7 September.