India coronavirus infections surge to 4.3 million

India reported 89,706 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday, taking its total caseload to 4.3 million, data from the federal health ministry showed.

The South Asian nation has the highest number of coronavirus infections outside of the United States, reporting the largest single-day increases in cases every day for more than a month.

It’s death rate has remained relatively low, but is starting to show signs of rising, with more than 1,000 deaths reported daily for eight days straight.

In the last 24 hours, 1,115 people died of COIVD-19, taking the death toll in India to 73,890, the health ministry said.

India syringe maker boosts production to meet virus vaccine demand

India's biggest syringe manufacturer is ramping up production to churn out a billion units, anticipating a surge in demand as the global race to find a coronavirus vaccine heats up.

While the focus on tackling the pandemic has mostly been on the development of vaccines, experts say medical essentials to administer them are also vital.

Hindustan Syringes -- one of the world's largest makers of the item -- said it is increasing its output of auto-disable devices (which prevent re-use) from 700 million a year to one billion by 2021 to meet the expected demand.

"Even if 60 percent of the world's population is immunized, it would mean four to five billion syringes would be required," Hindustan Syringes managing director Rajiv Nath said at their factory in northern Haryana state.

There are currently more than 30 candidate vaccines being tested on humans, with governments hoping to deploy one as soon as possible with the coronavirus wrecking lives and economies.

SS