India’s count increases by the last 20 million, increased by 357,229 new cases over the past 24 hours, while deaths increase by 3,449 for a total of 222,408.
India on Tuesday confirmed more than 20 million coronavirus infections in the official total, although the figure is believed to be a lot lower.
A sharp rise in COVID-19 cases has left the country’s healthcare system in a state of disarray, as hospitals run out of oxygen and almost all hospital beds are occupied.
The country has witnessed scenes of people dying outside overflowing hospitals and funeral pyres that illuminate the night sky.
Here are the latest updates:
“Horrible” weeks ahead, warns a leading expert
Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health in the United States, said he is concerned that Indian policymakers he has been in contact with believe things will improve in the coming days.
“I’ve been … trying to tell them,‘ If all goes well, things will be horrible for the next few weeks. And it could be a lot longer, ”he said.
Jha said we need to focus on “classic” public health measures – specific shutdowns, more testing, universal mask wear and avoiding large meetings. “That’s what will break the back of this wave,” he said.
The count of COVID-19 infections in India crosses 20 million
The count of coronavirus infections in India exceeded 20 million, increased by 357,229 new cases in the last 24 hours, while deaths increased by 3,449 for a total of 222,408 fatalities, according to data from the ministries of health.
India becomes the second nation in the world, after the United States, to overcome the dark milestone. The South Asian country took just over four months to add 10 million cases, compared to more than 10 months in its first 10 million.
India’s virus crisis is a “disaster like an earthquake”
Doctors at New Dehli hospitals say their infrastructure is on the verge of collapsing amid the wave of coronavirus in India and they have called for help from the West and the international community.
The beds are full and the oxygen supply has been dangerously reduced at the facility, which has resulted in an increase in fatalities. In some cases, the only way a new patient can get an ICU bed is if the previous occupant dies.
The crisis seems to be showing no signs of slowing down, which means medical staff are also on the verge of exhaustion.
One doctor compared the situation to a “major disaster” and said a response comparable to that given after an earthquake was needed.
