India has reported 44,230 new Covid-19 cases, the most in three weeks, the latest evidence of a worrying trend of rising cases amid fears of another wave of infections, Reuters reports.

India was battered by the Delta variant of the coronavirus in April and May but the rate of infection spread later eased off. It has been rising again, with higher numbers in seven of the past eight days.

The nationwide tally of infections has reached 31.57 million, according to health ministry data. Deaths rose by 555 overnight, taking the overall toll to 423,217.