India announced Monday that it had logged nearly 700,000 coronavirus cases, taking it past Russia to become the world's third-hardest-hit nation in the global pandemic.

Air passengers wearing protective suits walk out of the arrival lounge of the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport after the authorities eased restrictions imposed as a preventive measure against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Kolkata on July 6, 2020. (Photo: AFP)

The health ministry said 697,358 cases had now been recorded, a rise of 24,000 in the last 24 hours, while Russia has just over 681,000 cases.

India has registered 19,693 deaths from the virus, a much lower number than many other badly hit countries. The United States and Brazil have the highest numbers of cases.