April 28, Wednesday, 2021 (1:30 p.m.) Newsline

1. In Japan officials are grappling with rising coronavirus cases as Tokyo, Osaka and two other prefectures remain under a state of emergency. Experts blame the surge on a more infectious variant. 2. India has confirmed record-high daily numbers of new coronavirus cases and deaths, overwhelming the country’s healthcare system. India’s government said 360,960 new coronavirus infections were confirmed in the country on Wednesday, marking the largest-ever daily tally and topping 300,000 for a seventh straight day.
3. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has eased its guidelines on the wearing of face masks. It says people fully vaccinated against the coronavirus can resume some outdoor activities without masks, except in certain crowded settings and venues. The agency now says fully vaccinated people can attend small outdoor gatherings and dine at outdoor restaurants without wearing masks. But it recommends that everyone should keep wearing masks at crowded outdoor events like live performances or sports events.