India’s toll from the coronavirus surged past 200,000 on Wednesday (Apr 28), the country’s deadliest day yet, as shortages of oxygen, medical supplies and hospital staff compounded a record number of new infections.
The second wave of infections has seen at least 300,000 people test positive each day for the past week, overwhelming healthcare facilities and crematoriums and driving an increasingly urgent international response.
The last 24 hours brought 360,960 new cases for the world’s largest single-day total, taking India’s tally of infections to nearly 18 million. It was also the deadliest day so far, with 3,293 fatalities taking the toll to 201,187.
Experts believe the official tally vastly underestimates the actual toll in a nation of 1.3 billion, however.
U.S. President Joe Biden says he intends to send vaccines to India.
(Compiled)
