New Delhi — India’s new coronavirus cases fell slightly on Sunday, but COVID-19 deaths surged to a record 3,689, as the national healthcare system was unable to handle the large number of cases. , Another state has been closed.
Authorities have reported 392,488 new cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases to 19.56 million. So far, the virus has killed 215,542 people. India reported a record 401,993 new coronavirus cases on Saturday.
Indian hospitals, morgues and crematoriums are overwhelmed by reporting more than 300,000 cases a day for more than 10 consecutive days. Many families have been left alone to compete for medicine and oxygen. In Delhi alone, dozens of people died last week due to lack of oxygen in the hospital.
Nearly 10 Indian states and Union Territory impose some form of restriction. The federal government is still reluctant to impose a national blockade.
Eastern Orissa has joined Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka and West Bengal to become the latest state to announce a two-week blockade. Other states, including Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan, have curfew or weekend blockades.
The Indian newspaper reported on Sunday that the country’s COVID-19 task force advised the federal government to impose a national blockade.
Last month, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said every effort should be made to avoid the blockade.
The federal government fears that another blockade will have a devastating effect on the economy. The blockade imposed last year after the first COVID-19 outbreak led to unemployment as economic output fell by a record 24% compared to the same period last year from April to June 2020.
The large surge in cases has also led to a shortage of medical staff, and media reports indicate that the government plans to provide medical and nursing students with incentives to support the COVID-19 facility.
As India’s health system collapsed, absenteeism from the workplace surged, staff became ill and cared for relatives, international aid began to be poured.
On Sunday, British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab said he would send more ventilators to India “soon.”
Countries, including the United States, ship important oxygen devices, therapeutics, and raw materials for vaccine production.
