India sees 3,874 COVID deaths as data suggests runaway infections

India reports 276,110 new cases as nearly two-thirds of people tested show exposure to virus, a private laboratory says.

India has reported 276,110 new coronavirus infections over the last 24 hours, while deaths rose by 3,874, as nearly two-thirds of people tested showed exposure to COVID-19, a chain of private laboratories said, indicating a runaway spread of the virus. The South Asian nation’s infection tally stands at 25.77 million, with a death toll of 287,122, health ministry data showed on Thursday. For months, India has been hit hard by the pandemic as a new variant discovered there drove a surge of up to more than 400,000 new infections a day.