India Covid deaths climb again as global aid flown in

Germany hit a new record in daily vaccinations with 1.1 million people

Death and infection rates have been rising exponentially throughout April in India

India's coronavirus disaster deepened on Thursday with the daily death toll climbing above 3,600 as dozens of countries sent urgent medical aid to help tackle the spiralling crisis.  

Even with vaccine rollouts underway, fatalities are still speeding past major milestones across the globe, such as in Brazil where total deaths have now surpassed 400,000 people since the start of the pandemic.

In New York, Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city hopes to "fully reopen" on July 1.

Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin announced plans to lift lockdown restrictions starting May 10, including "vaccine bonus" perks for those who have had both jabs. 

Portugal said it would reopen its land border with Spain on Saturday. 

"It is very important to realise that the situation in India can happen anywhere," said WHO Europe chief Hans Kluge.

Death and infection rates have been rising exponentially throughout April in India, which experts blame in part on mass gatherings. 

The pandemic has claimed at least 3.1 million lives around the world, with India accounting for more than 200,000 fatalities, the worst toll outside the Americas.

Its daily average death toll of 2,526 over the last week remains second only to India. 

"We rushed to multiple hospitals, but were denied admission everywhere," said the son of an 84-year-old woman who died at home this week after a desperate search for a hospital bed and oxygen in Kolkata, capital of West Bengal state.

Several states have warned, however, they do not have sufficient vaccine stocks and the expanded rollout is threatened by administrative bickering, confusion over prices and technical glitches on the government's digital vaccine platform.

More than 40 countries have committed to sending India vital medical aid, particularly oxygen amid a severe shortage, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said.

Hundreds of thousands of doses of Covid-19 treatment drugs as well as raw materials to produce vaccines were also being sent.

But the body has stopped short of saying it is more transmissible, more deadly or able to dodge vaccines.

In the United States, President Joe Biden on Wednesday hailed his nation's inoculation programme as one of "the greatest logistical achievements" in American history.

Countries are looking to do the same in Europe, and Germany hit a new record in daily vaccinations with 1.1 million people, Health Minister Jens Spahn said.

Shortly after he made his comments, the first case of the Indian variant of coronavirus was detected in mainland France.

"Put the test in the mouth, suck for 90 seconds, dip the test in the container, wait 15 minutes, check the result," the instructions read.

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