In India, main opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has warned that if the deadly second COVID-19 wave sweeping the country is not brought under control it would decimate India as well as threaten the rest of the world.

In a letter, Gandhi implored Prime Minister Narendra Modi to prepare for another national lockdown, accelerate a country-wide vaccination programme and scientifically track the virus and its mutations.

Meanwhile, over 3,900 people died of COVID-19 in a single day, taking the death toll in India to over 2,34,000.

The country recorded the highest-ever one-day rise in the number of COVID-19 cases for the second day in a row as over 4,14000 people tested positive for the virus during the last 24 hours.