India reported on Friday 259,551 new coronavirus infections over the last 24 hours, while deaths rose by 4,209.
The South Asian nation's infection tally stands at 26.03 million, with a death toll of 291,365, health ministry data showed.
Meanwhile, states across India order emergency measures to counter a surge in the rare deadly "black fungus" infection among coronavirus sufferers.
On Wednesday, India approved the first home-based testing kit for coronavirus. Residents can buy the kit at Rs250 and it will provide results within 15 minutes, the Hindustan Times reported.
The pandemic has killed at least 3,445,455 people worldwide since the virus first emerged in late 2019, according to an AFP compilation of official data.
The United States is the worst-affected country with 602,616 deaths, followed by Brazil with 444,391, Mexico with 221,080 and Britain with 127,701.
Don't travel, says WHO
Progress against the pandemic remains "fragile" and international travel should be avoided, warns the World Health Organization's Europe director Hans Kluge.
But he adds that all the vaccines authorised by the WHO are effective against the "Covid-19 virus variants that have emerged so far."
EU health pass
The European Parliament and EU member states reach a deal paving the way for a Covid-19 "green certificate" that will help open up travel in Europe for the key summer season.
France widens jab rollout
All adults in France will be eligible for Covid-19 vaccinations starting May 31, two weeks earlier than initially planned, Prime Minister Jean Castex announces.
Lockdown challenge fails
The European Court of Human Rights throws out as inadmissible a claim by a member of the European parliament that imposing a Covid-19 lockdown was comparable to house arrest.
AstraZeneca, J&J for volunteers
Denmark, the first European country to discontinue the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson Covid vaccines, makes both shots available to volunteers.
Moderna, AstraZeneca for Japan?
A Japanese government panel recommends approval of Moderna and AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccines, as criticism mounts over the slow start to inoculations with just two months until the Olympics.
CAR vaccinates
The Central African Republic begins its vaccine rollout with doses of AstraZeneca from the Covax programme for poorer countries. Cases have shot up since the start of the year.
Sweden tops EU cases
For the first time this year, Sweden's incidence rate of coronavirus cases has topped European Union figures, at 577 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control says. But associated deaths are among the lowest.
Italian package
Italy's government approves a 40-billion-euro support package for its struggling economy, devastated by the pandemic. It includes 100 million for the ailing Alitalia airline.
Back to HQ at IMF
The IMF says it will gradually shift back to having staff work in-person at its Washington headquarters from June 1 as the United States brings its Covid-19 outbreak under control.
