Story at a glance
- A new global record of daily coronavirus cases in India Thursday pushed the country’s total confirmed cases above 18 million amid a mounting death toll.
- Health ministry data shows 3,645 new deaths.
- Nearly 205,000 people have died from COVID-19 in India.
A new global record of daily coronavirus cases in India pushed the country’s total confirmed cases above 18 million amid a mounting death toll.
India reported more than 379,000 new cases Thursday — setting a high mark in new cases for the sixth time in seven days. Health ministry data shows 3,645 new deaths on the same day, Reuters reported.
Nearly 205,000 people have died of COVID-19 in India, data from the World Health Organization shows — more than 147 million vaccinations have been administered.
Sayyed Muni Kamruddin, a gravedigger in Mumbai, told Reuters he is working constantly to bury the dead.
“I’m not scared of COVID, I’ve worked with courage. It’s all about courage, not about fear,” he said. “This is our only job. Getting the body, removing it from the ambulance, and then burying it.”
America is changing faster than ever! Add Changing America to your Facebook or Twitter feed to stay on top of the news.
Vijay Raghavan, principal scientific adviser to the government, told the Indian Express newspaper that “the ferocity of the second wave took everyone by surprise,” according to Reuters.
“While we were all aware of second waves in other countries, we had vaccines at hand, and no indications from modelling exercises suggested the scale of the surge,” Raghavan said.
The U.S. announced Wednesday that it is sending nearly $100 million in resources and medical supplies to India, which would include personal protective equipment, oxygen cylinders and rapid COVID-19 tests. Non-government entities in the U.S. have also pledged assistance, according to a White House fact sheet.
“U.S. state governments, private companies, non-government organizations, and thousands of Americans from across the country have mobilized to deliver vital oxygen, related equipment, and essential supplies for Indian hospitals to support frontline health care workers and the people of India most affected during the current outbreak.”
Anthony Fauci said Tuesday that the world has failed to adequately come to India’s aid and laid responsibility on rich countries to step up and assist the country amid its crisis.
“Right now it’s a terrible tragic situation where people are dying because there’s not enough oxygen, where there’s not enough hospital beds,” Fauci said. “We have to try, looking forward, to get as much equity when it comes to public health issues as we possibly can.”
“Because we’re all in this together. It’s an interconnected world. And there are responsibilities that countries have to each other, particularly if you’re a wealthy country and you’re dealing with countries that don’t have the resources or capabilities that you have,” Fauci added.
READ MORE STORIES FROM CHANGING AMERICA
CDC GIVES NEW MASK GUIDANCE FOR OUTDOORS AND INDOORS
CDC INVESTIGATING NEW REPORTS OF BLOOD CLOT CASES LINKED TO J&J VACCINE
PFIZER-BIONTECH BOOSTER LIKELY NEEDED AS IMMUNITY WANES, SAYS SCIENTIST WHO HELPED DEVELOP VACCINE
AFTER CALLING IT A SCAM, CONTROVERSIAL ROCKER TED NUGENT CONTRACTS COVID-19
changing america copyright.
