A COVID-19 patient in India. (Photo:AFP)

India, the world's second biggest COVID-19 epicenter, has had more than 17.6 million infections, and nearly 198,000 deaths.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged people to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Experts predict that the current COVID-19 wave in India will peak in mid-May, with the number of new infections increasing to 500,000 cases per day, then possibly decreasing from mid-June to July.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday that the situation in India is beyond heartbreaking, and the WHO is sending extra staff and supplies there to help fight the pandemic.

The world recorded more than 148.5 million COVID-19 infections and 3.1 million deaths as of Tuesday morning. The US remains the hardest hit country with 32.8 million cases and more than 586,000 deaths.