Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

412,262 new cases and 3,980 deaths as Covid spreads in rural India

412,262 new cases and 3,980 deaths as Covid spreads in rural India

INDIA reported a record 412,262 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday (6) and a record 3,980 daily death toll, as a second wave of infections swamps the health system and spreads from cities into the vast countryside.

Covid-19 infections in the world's second most populous nation have surged past 21 million, with a death toll of 230,168, health ministry data show.


Government modelling had forecast a peak in second wave infections by Wednesday (12).

"This temporarily halts speculations of a peak," Rijo M John, a professor at the Indian Institute of Management in the southern state of Kerala, said on Twitter.

With hospitals scrabbling for beds and oxygen in response to the surge in infections, the World Health Organization said in a weekly report that India accounted for nearly half the coronavirus cases reported worldwide last week and a quarter of the deaths.

Medical experts say India's actual figures could be five to 10 times the official tallies.

India's Covid-19 crisis has been most acute in the capital, New Delhi, among other cities, but in rural areas - home to nearly 70 per cent of India's 1.3 billion people - limited public healthcare is posing more challenges.

"The situation has become dangerous in villages," said Suresh Kumar, a field coordinator with Manav Sansadhan Evam Mahila Vikas Sansthan, a human rights charity.

In some villages where the charity works in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh - home to about 200 million people - "there are deaths in almost every second house", he said.

"People are scared and huddled in their homes with fever and cough. The symptoms are all of Covid-19, but with no information available many think it is seasonal flu."

India's Goa state, a hugely popular tourist destination on the western coast, has the highest rate of Covid-19 infections in the country, with up to one in every two people testing positive in recent weeks, government officials said.

Prime minister Narendra Modi has been widely criticized for not acting sooner to suppress the second wave, after religious festivals and political rallies drew tens of thousands of people in recent weeks and became "super spreader" events.

The surge in infections has also coincided with a dramatic drop in vaccinations because of supply and delivery problems, despite India being a major vaccine producer.

Crisis situation for doctors

In the capital Delhi, fewer than 20 of more than 5,000 COVID-19 ICU beds are free at any one time.

Student doctors like Rohan Aggarwal, 26, recruited to fight the second wave, are being forced to make life and death decisions.

His Holy Family Hospital in Delhi normally has a capacity for 275 adults, but is currently caring for 385.

"Who to be saved, who not to be saved should be decided by God," Aggarwal told Reuters during a grim overnight shift.

"We are not made for that – we are just humans. But at this point in time, we are being made to do this."

The country's top scientific adviser has warned of a possible third wave of infections.

"Phase 3 is inevitable, given the high levels of circulating virus," the government's principal scientific adviser, K. VijayRaghavan told a news briefing on Wednesday (5).

"But it is not clear on what time scale this phase 3 will occur... We should prepare for new waves."

While India is the world's biggest vaccine maker, it is struggling to produce enough product for the surge in infections. Its two current vaccine producers will take two months or more to boost total monthly output from the current 70 million to 80 million doses.

US president Joe Biden on Wednesday threw his support behind waiving intellectual property rights for Covid-19 vaccines in a move to boost vaccinations worldwide.

More For You

Coeliac Disease: What to Know After Rebecca Adlington’s Diagnosis

Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington has recently revealed about her condition

Getty Images

Key things to know about Coeliac disease after Rebecca Adlington’s diagnosis

Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington has recently revealed her diagnosis of coeliac disease and has called for greater awareness of the condition. In a video shared on Coeliac UK’s Instagram, Adlington discussed the importance of gluten-free prescriptions and urged the government to protect access to these prescriptions, which have been cut in some areas.

Her diagnosis shines a light on coeliac disease, a condition that affects approximately 1 in 100 people in the UK. However, due to the difficulty in recognising the symptoms, only around 36% of people living with the condition have been officially diagnosed.

Keep ReadingShow less
Dave Myers' Iconic Bike Auctioned for £16,000 in Heartfelt Tribute

The legacy of Dave Myers is set to continue through Dave Day

Getty Images

Hairy Biker Dave Myers' last ride sells for £16,000 at auction

The motorbike that belonged to late TV personality and Hairy Bikers star Dave Myers has sold for £15,800 in a charity auction held at the National Motorcycle Museum near Solihull. The motorcycle, a BSA Goldstar, was used in the BBC's Hairy Bikers Go West, and the proceeds from its sale will benefit two charities close to Myers’ heart – NSPCC Childline and CancerCare North Lancashire & South Cumbria.

Lilian Myers, Dave Myers' wife, was keen to see the bike find a new home where it would be appreciated. "That bike still has his DNA on it," she said, expressing her hopes that the buyer would love it as much as her husband did. She added, "I am really, really happy to see this bike being loved, and I'm sure the person who got it will love it as much as Dave did."

Keep ReadingShow less
Shampoo containing deadly bacteria

Henkel is taking steps to ensure that no further contaminated products reach consumers

iStock

Shampoo containing deadly bacteria recalled due to risk of ‘serious infections’

More than 1,000 bottles of a popular shampoo sold in the United States have been recalled after being found to contain harmful bacteria that could lead to severe infections. The product in question, Tec Italy branded shampoo and conditioner for dry and damaged hair, has tested positive for the presence of Klebsiella oxytoca, a bacterium that can cause serious health complications.

Henkel, the company behind the Tec Italy brand, has recalled 1,068 units of the product as a result of the contamination. The recall comes after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Class II designation, indicating that use of the product could result in temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences.

Keep ReadingShow less
Coca-Cola Issues Recall for 900 Cases Due to Plastic Contamination

The recall is classified as a Class II event by the FDA

iStock

Coca-Cola recalls nearly 900 cases due to plastic contamination

Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling, LLC, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has initiated a recall of nearly 900 cases of Coca-Cola Original Taste due to potential contamination with plastic. The recall affects 864 12-pack cases of Coca-Cola, which were distributed to retailers in Illinois and Wisconsin. The recall was announced on 6th March 2025, and is currently still in progress, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The recall is classified as a Class II event by the FDA, which means that while the risk of severe health consequences is considered low, consumers may still experience temporary or reversible adverse effects. Plastic contamination in beverages poses a number of risks, including the potential for choking, oral injuries, or gastrointestinal discomfort if consumed.

Keep ReadingShow less