India becomes third nation after US, Brazil to cross 3 lakh Covid-19 deaths

India's coronavirus-linked deaths' count, which received a jarring push from the ongoing second wave of infections, has crossed the three lakh-mark, throwing the country into the grim global club with just two more members - United States and Brazil, reports the NDTV.

Earlier on Sunday, India reported 2,40,842 new cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, taking the total tally of cases to 26,530,132, according to the Indian health ministry update; 3,741 fatalities were also recorded in the same timespan.

The Indian health ministry said on Saturday that the second wave has been stabilising all over the country, with seven states reporting 10,000 cases and six states recording 5,000-10,000 cases, a day, reports the Hindustan Times.

More than 93 districts have also been reporting a decline in positivity rate.

However, states all over the country have been extending ongoing curbs in a bid to keep the infection from spreading. Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Goa have re-imposed curfew-like restrictions after active cases showed a decline, as governments work to ramp up vaccination efforts.

Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, UP, Punjab, and Delhi continue to report a high number of Covid-19 deaths, according to the country's health ministry.

In the second wave of the pandemic, the huge surge in cases have overburdened the underdeveloped rural healthcare infrastructure. Niti Aayog member (health) Dr VK Paul, said during a press briefing on Saturday that infected individuals have to be connected to the formal healthcare system for advice even if they are being treated under home isolation.

He also emphasised on the need to bolster ambulance service and increase the number of beds in a timely manner.