India conducted the lowest number of daily Covid-19 tests since mid-August on Sunday, but the health ministry urged local governments not to let their guard down during the September to November festival season.

States and federally controlled territories carried out 1.18 million tests on Sunday, government data showed, down from 1.56 million on Saturday and against a capacity of more than two million.

It comes as most states dropped compulsory testing for fully vaccinated travellers in recent weeks, as they try to boost their economies by making it easier for people to commute.

New Covid-19 infections meanwhile have plateaued at around 30,000 a day as vaccinations surged but some health experts say this could also been down to reduced testing, Reuters reports.