10 things you need to know today: May 1, 2021 Tim O'Donnell 1. India recorded 3,689 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in the last 24 hours, marking the country's deadliest day since the coronavirus pandemic began. Sunday was the fourth straight day during which more than 3,000 people died of the disease. The number of new infections dropped slightly from the day before, when the tally crossed 400,000 in a 24-hour period for the first time, to 392,488. Hospitals remain overwhelmed and face oxygen shortages. Amid the surge, Indian election officials started counting votes in four states and one union territory. The race is seen as a test of whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi's handling of the pandemic will affect support for him and his Bharatiya Janata Party. [