India COVID-19 cases surpass 18 million

India’s total COVID-19 cases passed 18 million on Thursday after another world record number of daily infections

Iran PressAsia: The gravediggers worked around the clock to bury victims and hundreds more were cremated in makeshift pyres in parks and parking lots, Reuters reported.

India reported 379,257 new infections and 3,645 new deaths on Thursday, health ministry data showed, the highest number of fatalities in a single day since the start of the pandemic.

Each day, thousands of Indians search frantically for hospital beds and life-saving oxygen for sick relatives, using social media apps and personal contacts. Hospital beds that become available, especially in intensive care units (ICUs), are snapped up in minutes.
Hotels and railway coaches have been converted into critical care facilities to make up for the shortage of hospital beds.

But although it is the world's biggest producer of vaccines, India does not have the stocks for the estimated 800 million now eligible.

Many who tried to sign up for vaccination said they failed, complaining about social media of being unable to get a slot or even to simply get on the website, as it repeatedly crashed.

India has reported 147.2 deaths per million, while Brazil and the United States reported figures of 1,800 and 1,700 respectively.

However, medical experts believe India's true COVID-19 numbers may be five to 10 times greater than the official tally.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been criticized for allowing massive political rallies and religious festivals which have been super-spreader events in recent weeks.

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