Countries worldwide hit new records for coronavirus cases, deaths
Nations around the world set new records on Thursday for COVID-19 deaths and new infections, and the disease surged even in countries that have kept the virus in check. In the United States, Michigan has averaged more than 7,000 new cases a day. Brazil became just the third country, after the US and Peru, to report a 24-hour tally of COVID-19 deaths exceeding 4,000.
India reported biggest single-day spike with 1.3L new cases
India hit a peak of almost 1.31 lakh new cases in 24 hours, and Iran set a new coronavirus record for the third straight day, reporting nearly 22,600 new cases. Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to get vaccinated. "Vaccination is among the few ways we have to defeat the virus. If you are eligible for the vaccine, get your shot soon," he tweeted.
Here is PM Modi's tweet
Only 11 million people in India have received both doses
More than 90 million health workers and Indians older than 45 have received at least one shot, and 11 million have received both doses. But that represents just a small portion of the country's population of nearly 1.4 billion people. In Brazil, less than three percent of 210 million people have received both doses, according to Our World in Data, an online research site.
South Korea reported 700 new cases, highest since January 5
Meanwhile, South Korea reported 700 more cases, the highest daily jump since January 5. Health authorities were expected to announce measures to strengthen social distancing following a meeting Friday.
Thailand reported first local cases of the British coronavirus variant
In Thailand, which has reported only 95 deaths during the pandemic, health officials reported the country's first local cases of the coronavirus variant first detected in Britain The news comes at a time when only one percent of the population has been vaccinated and as Thais prepare to celebrate the traditional Songkran New Year's holiday next week, typically a time of widespread travel.
Michigan's coronavirus cases are second in the nation
Michigan's infection numbers are second in the nation behind New York. Michigan also has the highest number of new cases per capita, One of every 203 state residents tested coronavirus positive between March 31 and April 7, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
127 students, five staff-members tested positive at Iowa school district
Other Midwestern states faced troubling signs recently, including a school district in Iowa where 127 students and five staff members tested COVID-19 positive or are presumed positive. In Massachusetts, where the seven-day rolling average of daily new cases has risen to over 2,100 new cases per day, the Massachusetts Public Health Association called on Republican Governor Charlie Baker to reinstate public health measures.
