<p>India's huge coronavirus second wave accelerated Thursday with a record number of infections reported, as a top Japanese politician warned Covid-19 could still derail the already delayed Olympics.</p>.<p>While nations like Britain have celebrated the beginning of normality and extended vaccine rollouts, some South Asian countries are grappling with fresh -- and more terrifying -- virus waves.</p>.<p>More than 200,000 cases were logged in the past 24 hours in India, where authorities are grappling with shortages of vaccines, treatments and hospital beds.</p>.<p>Having let its guard down with mass religious festivals, political rallies and almost unfettered sports crowds, the nation has this month seen two million fresh infections -- a figure that looks set to continue growing.</p>.<p>Siddharth Chakrapani, one of the organisers of India's massive Kumbh Mela festival, said devotees "believe that Maa (mother) Ganga will save them from this pandemic"</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/covid-19-what-is-the-double-mutant-variant-that-has-set-off-alarm-bells-966206.html" target="_blank">Covid-19: What is the ‘double mutant’ variant that has set off alarm bells?</a></strong></p>.<p>"Our faith is the biggest thing for us," he added.</p>.<p>This week India overtook Brazil to become the country with the second-highest number of cases worldwide.</p>.<p>Despite New Delhi's desperation to avoid a repeat of the economically painful lockdown of a year ago, some states -- such as Maharashtra and its capital Mumbai -- are tightening the screws to prevent deaths.</p>.<p>With lockdown looming, millions of migrant workers streamed out of Mumbai in scenes reminiscent of the exodus from Indian towns and cities a year ago when the government halted all activity almost overnight.</p>.<p>As cases mount, hospitals are struggling to cope, running short of beds, oxygen and coronavirus medicines like remdesivir.</p>.<p>And Delhi's much publicised vaccine drive to inoculate all 1.3 billion citizens has stumbled.</p>.<p>Just 114 million shots have been administered so far -- and stocks are running low, according to authorities.</p>.<p>Elsewhere in Asia storm clouds were once again gathering over the Tokyo Olympics.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/fears-of-covid-19-vaccine-exclusion-as-india-uses-aadhaar-based-facial-recognition-974548.html" target="_blank">Fears of Covid-19 vaccine exclusion as India uses Aadhaar-based facial recognition</a></strong></p>.<p>Top politician Toshiro Nikai, the ruling party's number two, said the games must be cancelled "without hesitation" if the virus situation is too severe.</p>.<p>Although officials were quick to dismiss Nikai's remarks, public opinion is turning against the event with towns cancelling torch events as the nation worries over a fourth wave of infections.</p>.<p>In Britain crowds gathered in mosques during Ramadan -- not only to pray, but to receive a vaccine.</p>.<p>The pandemic has particularly hit ethnic minorities in the UK, where more than 127,000 people in total have died from Covid-19 -- one of the worst tolls in the world and the highest in Europe.</p>.<p>And vaccine hesitancy is disproportionately present among some groups, even as Britain drives ahead with a mass inoculation campaign that has so far seen more than 32 million people have a jab.</p>.<p>But local leaders are cautiously optimistic as a fresh push for vaccines begins to reach these communities.</p>.<p>"The message is getting through," said Hasnayn Abbasi, a doctor heading the East London Mosque's vaccination centre.</p>.<p>In New Zealand -- widely lauded for its adroit handling of the virus -- authorities began trialling a monitoring app designed to detect coronavirus before the user develops any noticeable symptoms.</p>.<p>In what is believed to be a world first, the "elarm" app connects to devices like fitness trackers and smart watches, using artificial intelligence to check for tell-tale signs.</p>.<p>Lebanese doctor Riad Sarkis has a very different suggestion to curb the deadly virus, as beside him one of his instruments enthusiastically wagged his tail.</p>.<p>Specially trained sniffer dogs can detect illness in a person in a few seconds, including in very early stages when a PCR test would yield a negative result.</p>.<p>"The day we build a machine with an electronic nose that amplifies smells 10,000 times, then we can replace the dogs. For now, we need them," Sarkis said.</p>.<p>"When Covid appeared, I thought why not try," he recounted. "And it worked".</p>
<p>India's huge coronavirus second wave accelerated Thursday with a record number of infections reported, as a top Japanese politician warned Covid-19 could still derail the already delayed Olympics.</p>.<p>While nations like Britain have celebrated the beginning of normality and extended vaccine rollouts, some South Asian countries are grappling with fresh -- and more terrifying -- virus waves.</p>.<p>More than 200,000 cases were logged in the past 24 hours in India, where authorities are grappling with shortages of vaccines, treatments and hospital beds.</p>.<p>Having let its guard down with mass religious festivals, political rallies and almost unfettered sports crowds, the nation has this month seen two million fresh infections -- a figure that looks set to continue growing.</p>.<p>Siddharth Chakrapani, one of the organisers of India's massive Kumbh Mela festival, said devotees "believe that Maa (mother) Ganga will save them from this pandemic"</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/covid-19-what-is-the-double-mutant-variant-that-has-set-off-alarm-bells-966206.html" target="_blank">Covid-19: What is the ‘double mutant’ variant that has set off alarm bells?</a></strong></p>.<p>"Our faith is the biggest thing for us," he added.</p>.<p>This week India overtook Brazil to become the country with the second-highest number of cases worldwide.</p>.<p>Despite New Delhi's desperation to avoid a repeat of the economically painful lockdown of a year ago, some states -- such as Maharashtra and its capital Mumbai -- are tightening the screws to prevent deaths.</p>.<p>With lockdown looming, millions of migrant workers streamed out of Mumbai in scenes reminiscent of the exodus from Indian towns and cities a year ago when the government halted all activity almost overnight.</p>.<p>As cases mount, hospitals are struggling to cope, running short of beds, oxygen and coronavirus medicines like remdesivir.</p>.<p>And Delhi's much publicised vaccine drive to inoculate all 1.3 billion citizens has stumbled.</p>.<p>Just 114 million shots have been administered so far -- and stocks are running low, according to authorities.</p>.<p>Elsewhere in Asia storm clouds were once again gathering over the Tokyo Olympics.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/fears-of-covid-19-vaccine-exclusion-as-india-uses-aadhaar-based-facial-recognition-974548.html" target="_blank">Fears of Covid-19 vaccine exclusion as India uses Aadhaar-based facial recognition</a></strong></p>.<p>Top politician Toshiro Nikai, the ruling party's number two, said the games must be cancelled "without hesitation" if the virus situation is too severe.</p>.<p>Although officials were quick to dismiss Nikai's remarks, public opinion is turning against the event with towns cancelling torch events as the nation worries over a fourth wave of infections.</p>.<p>In Britain crowds gathered in mosques during Ramadan -- not only to pray, but to receive a vaccine.</p>.<p>The pandemic has particularly hit ethnic minorities in the UK, where more than 127,000 people in total have died from Covid-19 -- one of the worst tolls in the world and the highest in Europe.</p>.<p>And vaccine hesitancy is disproportionately present among some groups, even as Britain drives ahead with a mass inoculation campaign that has so far seen more than 32 million people have a jab.</p>.<p>But local leaders are cautiously optimistic as a fresh push for vaccines begins to reach these communities.</p>.<p>"The message is getting through," said Hasnayn Abbasi, a doctor heading the East London Mosque's vaccination centre.</p>.<p>In New Zealand -- widely lauded for its adroit handling of the virus -- authorities began trialling a monitoring app designed to detect coronavirus before the user develops any noticeable symptoms.</p>.<p>In what is believed to be a world first, the "elarm" app connects to devices like fitness trackers and smart watches, using artificial intelligence to check for tell-tale signs.</p>.<p>Lebanese doctor Riad Sarkis has a very different suggestion to curb the deadly virus, as beside him one of his instruments enthusiastically wagged his tail.</p>.<p>Specially trained sniffer dogs can detect illness in a person in a few seconds, including in very early stages when a PCR test would yield a negative result.</p>.<p>"The day we build a machine with an electronic nose that amplifies smells 10,000 times, then we can replace the dogs. For now, we need them," Sarkis said.</p>.<p>"When Covid appeared, I thought why not try," he recounted. "And it worked".</p>