Politics
India buckles under ‘world’s worst Covid outbreak’ with record 315,000 new cases as people die waiting for oxygen
INDIA is fighting the “world’s worst” Covid outbreak as it suffered a record 314,385 new cases yesterday.
The country, which has a population of 1.4 billion people, has given less than 10 per cent of its population its first vaccine shot despite administering 2.7m jabs every day.
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Bodies of Covid-19 victims are being burned[/caption]
Deaths yesterday also rose by 2,104 – India’s worst daily toll yet – meaning nearly 185,000 have died from the coronavirus.
The crisis has led to headlines such as “world’s worst outbreak” after the country yesterday broke the world record for daily cases set by the US in January.
An extreme shortage in oxygen has led the Health Ministry to urge hospitals to implement rationing.
Tanks of oxygen are being shuttled across the country to hotspots to keep up with the demand – but local officials have alleged that many have been intercepted by other states en route to be used to meet local needs.
Experts say the second wave surge is the result of India letting its guard down when cases fell in January.
Dead bodies of patients who died of Covid-19 are wrapped in protective covers[/caption]
The latest wave has already overwhelmed hospitals and crematoria[/caption]
Large gatherings including religious events and political rallies were permitted allowing the virus to spread like wild fire.
Doctors are now admitting that the healthcare system “has collapsed.”
Dr Jalil Parkar, of Lilavati hospital in Mumbai, said: “The whole healthcare system has collapsed and doctors are exhausted.
“There is a shortage of beds, shortage of oxygen, shortage of drugs, shortage of vaccines, shorting of testing.”
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Officially, more than 180,000 Indians have died from coronavirus although some believe the real number may be higher.
Intensive care units are full with nearly all ventilators are in use and the dead are piling up at graveyards and crematoriums.
Disturbing images show row upon row of burning pyres and crematoriums unable to cope.
