India has recorded the highest number of deaths from coronavirus per day since the pandemic began. The day after India became the first country to see more than 400,000 new cases.
The Ministry of Health said 3,689 people had died within the last 24 hours.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the Minister of Health on Sunday morning to consider the crisis.
Hospitals are fighting to treat patients in a chronic shortage of beds and medical oxygen.
During the crisis, ballot counting for elections in five states in March and April began on Sunday.
The results will be monitored for signs of how the pandemic affected Mr. Modi and his support for the Hindu nationalist party BJP.
What’s the latest news?
India has recorded more than 19 million cases of coronavirus-second only to the United States. The actual casualties are believed to be much higher, but more than 215,000 deaths have been confirmed.
Experts cite low testing rates and the number of people dying at home, especially in rural areas, as factors in the underreported numbers.
The country’s record high daily death toll was 3,645, as reported this week.
Both Brazil and the United States have registered over 4,000 daily tolls during the pandemic process.
While morgues and crematoriums have been overwhelmed in India, the tragic image of families begging for hospital beds and life-saving supplies has emerged for more than a decade.
At Batra Hospital in Delhi, 12 people died for the second time in a week on Saturday after oxygen depletion.
The Times of India reported that oxygen deficiencies in two hospitals killed 16 people in southern Andhra Pradesh and 6 in Gurgaon, a suburb of Delhi.
The High Court of Delhi has declared that it will begin punishing authorities if life-saving supplies do not reach the hospital.
“The water went overhead, enough,” said Judges Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Patil.
How is India vaccinated?
All adults in India are currently eligible for the coronavirus vaccine. However, the planned start of a national drive on Saturday failed because some states stated that people aged 18-44 did not have enough doses to start vaccination.
Despite being the world’s largest producer of vaccines, the country suffers from internal shortages Temporarily suspend all exports of AstraZeneca To meet domestic demand.
The Ministry of Health said on Sunday that 84,599 people in the age group received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine.
In India, we use two vaccines from Oxford-AstraZeneca Jab (locally known as Covishield) and Indian company Bharat Biotech (Covaxin). The Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine has also been approved for use, with the first 150,000 doses arriving on Saturday.
What are other countries doing to help?
Countries around the world have sent large quantities of emergency medical supplies. As of Thursday, 40 countries were shipping.
The first of several planes from the United States equipped with oxygen cylinders, masks and rapid diagnostic tests arrived in Delhi on Friday.
“The bond between the oldest and greatest democracy continues to grow,” the Indian Ministry of Health tweeted.
The United States was previously criticized for banning the sending of vaccine raw materials abroad. This limited India’s ability to produce more AstraZeneca jabs. The bill was lifted last week.
A German military aircraft with 120 ventilators arrived in India on Saturday. The UK has also sent hundreds of medical devices.
British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show on Sunday that he “always looks very carefully at any request” to help India cope with the record surge in the Covid case.
However, when asked if the UK should suspend vaccination of young and vulnerable people and send doses abroad, Mr. Raab has not received a request from India “on that particular issue.” Stated.
Why is India not completely blocked?
The central government is reluctant to impose a national blockade, which the prime minister called a “last resort.” Senior leaders are afraid of economic implications as India’s production in April-June fell by a record 24% year-on-year after the blockade last year.
Labor costs can also be tough.Last year’s 68-day national blockade Millions of Indian migrant workers make a painstaking journey back to their home village After they realize they are unemployed and running out of money.
Poor people, especially undernourished children and pregnant women who rely on government programs, found it difficult to access benefits. The vaccination program has been discontinued and people suffering from serious illness have had difficulty accessing important medical services.
However, there are restrictions in some states and coalition areas.
Orissa is the latest person to announce a two-week blockade, joining the devastated Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka and West Bengal.
Other states, including the populous Uttar Pradesh, have curfew or weekend blockades.
The Indian Express newspaper reports that India’s Covid-19 task force, which advises the government, is urging a national blockade to quell the catastrophic second wave.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, a top US infectious disease expert, said Saturday that a “weeks” of “immediate” shutdown could break the chain of infections in India.
How about the election?
Election officials on Sunday began counting votes in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Pondicherry.
Most votes were cast in March, but continued voting in some areas in April.
In West Bengal, there was a long line outside the polling place this week. Despite the surge in Covid cases, people voted in the final stages of the election.
According to Reuters, more than 1,000 observers participate in the counting process and are expected to give negative test results or prove that they have been fully vaccinated.
Modi has been criticized for allowing people to meet in political rallies in March and April with minimal social distance and little wearing of masks.