The Latest: Indian army to care for patients in rail cars

NEW DELHI: India’s home minister says armed forces personnel will be providing medical care and attention for coronavirus patients kept in railroad coaches in the Indian capital, which has emerged as the second worst hit state in the country.

Home Minister Amit Shah says 8,000 additional beds have been placed at the Delhi government’s disposal for COVID care centers. The Indian capital is facing bed shortages as the number of cases in the city has jumped to 66,603 with 2,301 deaths.

The Indian Railways said that it has deployed more than 500 railroad coaches at nine locations to meet bed shortages.

India recorded the highest spike of 15,968 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total to 456,183 with 14,476 deaths.

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HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:

— Scarce medical oxygen worldwide leaves many gasping for life

— Fauci: Next few weeks critical to tamping down virus spikes

— US virus cases surge to highest level in 2 months

— Major League Baseball has issued a 60-game schedule that will start July 23 or 24 in empty ballparks as the sport tries to push ahead amid the coronavirus following months of acrimony. This will be MLB’s shortest season since 1878.

— The United Nations chief is criticizing the total lack of international coordination in tackling the pandemic. And Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is warning that the go-it-alone policy of many countries will not defeat the coronavirus.

— British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says people in England will be able to go to the pub, visit a movie theater, get a haircut or attend a religious service starting July 4.

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