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 India reports record daily death toll
India reported 1,761 deaths from COVID-19 overnight, its highest
daily toll, with large parts of the country now under lockdown as a
second wave has left people fighting for hospital beds, oxygen and
medicines.
The world's second most populous country is grappling with its
biggest public health emergency after it lowered its guard when
infections fell to a multi-month low in February, health experts and
officials say.
On Tuesday, the health ministry reported 259,170 new infections, the
world's highest daily rate. It has reported daily infections above
the 200,000 mark for six days.
U.S. will boost 'Do Not Travel' advisories to 80% of world
The U.S. State Department said it will boost its "Do Not Travel"
guidance to about 80% of countries worldwide, citing "unprecedented
risk to travelers" from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The State Department already listed 34 out of about 200 countries as
"Level 4: Do Not Travel," including places like Chad, Kosovo, Kenya,
Brazil, Argentina, Haiti, Mozambique, Russia and Tanzania.
Getting to 80% would imply adding nearly 130 countries.
Thailand battles new wave
Thai health authorities on Tuesday assured the public there were
sufficient hospital beds for the rising number of coronavirus
patients, amid a new wave of infections this month that has spread
fast across the country.
Thailand's policy of hospitalising all those who test positive for
COVID-19, even those without symptoms, has prompted concern about
its capacity in the event of a surge in the number of patients with
severe symptoms.
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 Authorities reported 1,443 new
cases and 4 new deaths on Tuesday, bringing
total infections to 45,185 with 108 fatalities
overall. Thailand has been credited for its
swift containment of earlier outbreaks, but has
yet to start mass vaccinations.
Ontario premier under fire
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the province expects to face a delay
in the supply of AstraZeneca vaccine.
Ford has faced criticism in recent days as Ontario's pandemic
spirals out of control, and he has sought to shift the blame to the
sluggish supply of vaccines coming from the federal government.
No other Canadian province reported a drop in AstraZeneca supply on
Monday.
New Zealand airport worker tests positive
New Zealand authorities reported that a worker in Auckland airport
has tested positive for COVID-19, but doubted whether the new case
would warrant ordering a pause in quarantine-free travel with
Australia.
Australia and New Zealand opened a travel bubble on Monday, after
both countries had closed borders in March 2020 to non-citizens and
permanent residents.
"When we opened, on both sides, we of course knew we would continue
to have cases connected to our border," New Zealand Prime Minister
Jacinda Ardern said. "We accept that's going to be part of our
journey together, I think Australia accepts that."
(Compiled by Linda Noakes; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
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