India's coronavirus disaster deepened on Thursday with the daily death toll climbing above 3,600 as dozens of countries sent urgent medical aid to help tackle the spiralling crisis.

Even with vaccine rollouts underway, fatalities are still speeding past major milestones across the globe, such as in Brazil where total deaths have now surpassed 400,000 people since the start of the pandemic.

The coronavirus spike in India has led to shortages of medical oxygen
The coronavirus spike in India has led to shortages of medical oxygen AFP / Prakash SINGH

However the United States and several European nations are starting to ease restrictions as their vaccination campaigns pick up.

In New York, Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city hopes to "fully reopen" on July 1.

And in France, cafes, cultural venues and business will reopen in several phases from next month, President Emmanuel Macron said.

Graphic highlighting the countries with the largest number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the past week.
Graphic highlighting the countries with the largest number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the past week. AFP / John SAEKI

Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin announced plans to lift lockdown restrictions starting May 10, including "vaccine bonus" perks for those who have had both jabs.

"Hope is returning," Martin said.

India is struggling to contain a devastating Covid-19 wave that has overwhelmed its healthcare system
India is struggling to contain a devastating Covid-19 wave that has overwhelmed its healthcare system AFP / TAUSEEF MUSTAFA

Portugal said it would reopen its land border with Spain on Saturday.

But the World Health Organization issued a stark warning to European nations that relaxing Covid measures could spark a "perfect storm" allowing cases to spiral -- as in India.

"It is very important to realise that the situation in India can happen anywhere," said WHO Europe chief Hans Kluge.

US President Joe Biden has hailed his country's vaccine rollout
US President Joe Biden has hailed his country's vaccine rollout AFP / Brendan Smialowski

Death and infection rates have been rising exponentially throughout April in India, which experts blame in part on mass gatherings.

A man is vaccinated against Covid-19 by a health worker in a remote area of Moju, Para state, Brazil
A man is vaccinated against Covid-19 by a health worker in a remote area of Moju, Para state, Brazil AFP / Joao Paulo Guimaraes

On Thursday, the south Asian nation reported 3,645 deaths over the past 24 hours, while confirmed new cases hit a new global record with more than 379,000. The official numbers are widely believed to be far below the reality.

The pandemic has claimed at least 3.1 million lives around the world, with India accounting for more than 200,000 fatalities, the worst toll outside the Americas.

Health care workers use popular 'mototaxis' to immunise elderly and immobile people in homes dotted across the hills surrounding Lima, which are full of narrow, steep roads, as Peru moves ahead with its Covid-19 vaccination campaign.
Health care workers use popular 'mototaxis' to immunise elderly and immobile people in homes dotted across the hills surrounding Lima, which are full of narrow, steep roads, as Peru moves ahead with its Covid-19 vaccination campaign. AFPTV / Jesus OLARTE

The US is the worst-affected country with more than 570,000 deaths, and Brazil reached 400,000 deaths Thursday after the country was devastated by a surge in cases at the start of the year that pushed hospitals to the brink of collapse in many areas.

Its daily average death toll of 2,526 over the last week remains second only to India.

In many Indian cities, hospitals are running out of beds as relatives of the sick jostle for medicines and oxygen cylinders.

Peru vaccinates the elderly against Covid with 'mototaxis' in the mountains
Peru vaccinates the elderly against Covid with 'mototaxis' in the mountains AFPTV / Jesus OLARTE

"We rushed to multiple hospitals, but were denied admission everywhere," said the son of an 84-year-old woman who died at home this week after a desperate search for a hospital bed and oxygen in Kolkata, capital of West Bengal state.

The Indian government will open vaccinations to all adults from Saturday.

Several states have warned, however, they do not have sufficient vaccine stocks and the expanded rollout is threatened by administrative bickering, confusion over prices and technical glitches on the government's digital vaccine platform.

More than 40 countries have committed to sending India vital medical aid, particularly oxygen amid a severe shortage, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said.

The supplies include almost 550 oxygen-generating plants, more than 4,000 oxygen concentrators, 10,000 oxygen cylinders as well as 17 cryogenic tankers.

Hundreds of thousands of doses of Covid-19 treatment drugs as well as raw materials to produce vaccines were also being sent.

The WHO has said the virus variant feared to be contributing to the catastrophe on the sub-continent has now been found in more than a dozen countries.

But the body has stopped short of saying it is more transmissible, more deadly or able to dodge vaccines.

In the United States, President Joe Biden on Wednesday hailed his nation's inoculation programme as one of "the greatest logistical achievements" in American history.

More than 234 million doses had been administered by Wednesday in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Countries are looking to do the same in Europe, and Germany hit a new record in daily vaccinations with 1.1 million people, Health Minister Jens Spahn said.

In France, where the rollout has stuttered, Macron set out a timetable for a gradual lifting of Covid curbs from May 19 to the end of June.

Amid concerns that virus variants may spread quickly among youngsters, a lollipop-shaped test is being rolled out in some Austrian kindergartens.

"Put the test in the mouth, suck for 90 seconds, dip the test in the container, wait 15 minutes, check the result," the instructions read.

Coronavirus