New Delhi—India has surpassed 200,000 daily COVID-19 infections for the first time, prompting authorities in major cities like New Delhi and Mumbai to impose new, strict restrictions to contain a devastating surge.
The escalation has overwhelmed healthcare facilities, with hotels and banquet halls in New Delhi being converted into COVID-19 centers. Cemeteries and crematoriums are struggling to cope with the increasing number of fatalities, signaling a deepening crisis in the nation’s capital.
Experts attribute the rapid spread to recent political rallies for local and state elections and a major Hindu festival, which have acted as superspreader events. The mass gatherings have significantly contributed to this latest wave of infections and deaths.
The pandemic has also had a severe economic impact. According to the Pew Research Center, India’s deep recession in 2020 plunged millions into poverty, shrinking the country’s middle class by an estimated 32 million people. “It has set back our growth trajectory hugely and created much greater inequality,” said Jayati Ghosh, a development economist and professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, in an interview with The New York Times.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is facing mounting criticism over his handling of the crisis. While several cities have imposed restrictions and some states are under lockdown, the central government has not enacted a new nationwide lockdown. Critics argue that the lack of unified action is hindering efforts to control the outbreak.
Vaccine shortages are exacerbating the situation. The rollout has been slow, and supplies are limited. In response, the government has fast-tracked approvals for foreign-made vaccines and promises to increase vaccine supply to almost 100 million doses by September, according to Reuters.
As the number of cases and deaths continues to rise, experts warn of the potential emergence of new virus variants. “Where you have that many people affected, there’s a higher chance of new strains because there are more opportunities for the virus to mutate,” said Alina Chan, a postdoctoral researcher at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.
In March, India’s health ministry detected all three major global COVID-19 variants within population samples, as well as a new “double-mutant variant” that may have originated in India. Scientists are still studying this new strain, but concerns are growing as cases linked to the variant have been found internationally, including in California.
The unfolding situation in India underscores the ongoing challenges in combating the pandemic, highlighting the need for swift action, increased vaccination efforts, and adherence to public health measures.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
