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 India's coronavirus deaths exceed 200,000
India's toll from the coronavirus surged past 200,000 on Wednesday,
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
carrying the toll to 201,187.
Pakistan sees record deaths
Pakistan recorded more than 200 COVID-19 deaths in a day for the
first time since the start of the pandemic on Tuesday, as the
government said it was considering stricter lockdowns.
A total of 201 new deaths were recorded on Tuesday, bringing the
country's overall death toll from the virus to 17,530, according to
the National Command Operation Center, which oversees the
government's pandemic response. The previous highest daily death
count was 157 recorded on April 23.
A total of 5,292 new cases were reported on Tuesday, bringing the
total cases to 810,231 in the country of more than 220 million
people.
South Korea to lift quarantine for vaccinated residents
South Korea said on Wednesday it will offer some exemptions to
mandatory quarantine measures for people who have been fully
inoculated against COVID-19, in an effort to encourage more
vaccinations.
South Korea has so far vaccinated 4% of its 52 million strong
population, but has set an ambitious target of giving shots to 70%
of its people by September and reaching herd immunity by November.
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From May 5, residents who have had both shots will not have to
undergo the mandatory two-week quarantine for people who have been
in contact with a confirmed patient or have returned from overseas
travel.
EU legal case against AstraZeneca begins
The European Commission's lawsuit against drugmaker AstraZeneca over
COVID-19 vaccine supplies began at a Brussels court on Wednesday,
where the bloc's lawyers pressed for immediate deliveries from all
factories, including from Britain.
The case in the Brussels court is the latest twist in an often bad-humoured
EU dispute with the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker, and at times with
Britain. The bloc accuses the company of failure to respect its
contract.
Cuts and delays in AstraZeneca deliveries have weighed on the choppy
inoculation campaign in the EU, which trails behind Britain, the
United States and Israel on vaccination.
Vaccines cut household transmission by up to a half
COVID-19 vaccines deployed in England can cut transmission of the
coronavirus in households by up to a half, data from Public Health
England showed on Wednesday, in addition to the protection the shots
offer against symptomatic infection.
"We already know vaccines save lives and this study is the most
comprehensive real-world data showing they also cut transmission of
this deadly virus," health minister Matt Hancock said.
(Compiled by Linda Noakes, Editing by William Maclean)
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