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 Calls grew for India to impose a nationwide lockdown as new
coronavirus cases and deaths held close to record highs on Monday,
increasing pressure on the government of Prime Minister Narendra
Modi.
The 366,161 new infections and 3,754 deaths reported by the health
ministry were down a little from recent peaks, taking India's tally
to 22.66 million with 246,116 deaths.
As many hospitals grapple with an acute shortage of oxygen and beds
while morgues and crematoriums overflow, experts have said India's
actual figures could be far higher than reported.
UK PM Johnson to ease England's lockdown
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will set out on Monday the next
phase of lockdown easing in England, giving the green light to
"cautious hugging" and allowing pubs to serve customers pints inside
after months of strict measures.
Aided by one of the fastest vaccine rollouts in the world, Britain's
daily case and death numbers have dropped sharply - reporting just
two fatalities on Sunday - enabling it to emerge from a lockdown
imposed in January to tackle a second wave.
Japan PM says has "never put Olympics first"
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Monday that he has
never "put the Olympics first", as an opinion poll showed nearly 60%
of people in Japan want the Games cancelled less than 11 weeks
before they are due to open.
Japan has extended a state of emergency in Tokyo and three other
areas until the end of May and is struggling to contain a surge in
cases, raising more questions about whether the Games should go
ahead. Its vaccination rate is the lowest among wealthy nations.
International Olympic officials, Tokyo planners and Suga himself
have insisted the Games will go on in "a safe and secure" way.
Foreign spectators will not be allowed and planners issued an
elaborate set of rules last month aimed at preventing infections.
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 Taiwan to quarantine pilots of
its largest airline
Taiwan will quarantine all pilots for its
largest carrier China Airlines for 14 days as it
tries to stop an outbreak of COVID-19, the
health minister said on Monday, impacting a
lifeline for the island's trade-dependent
economy.
Taiwan has generally kept the pandemic under
control due to early prevention with only
sporadic domestic cases, but since last month it
has been dealing with an outbreak linked to
China Airlines pilots and an airport hotel where
many of them stayed. There have been 35
confirmed infections in the outbreak.
Health authorities believe some of the pilots
got infected overseas, then spread the infection
upon returning to Taiwan, and that others could
have been infected by pilots from other airlines
staying at the same hotel.
South Africa warns of 'vaccine apartheid'
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on
Monday that if wealthy nations hogged COVID-19
shots while millions in poor countries died
waiting for them it would amount to "vaccine
apartheid".
 South Africa and India have been pushing for a
waiver on some intellectual property rights for
vaccines and medicines at the World Trade
Organization.
U.S. President Joe Biden backed the proposal
last week, though it may still take months to
reach a deal.
(Compiled by Linda Noakes, editing by Ed Osmond)
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