India’s second wave seems relentless, with 200,000 new cases and over a thousand deaths on Tuesday April 13, 2021. CNBC confirms this is an ongoing trend since the beginning of April. That’s because the populous nation of 1.3 billion people logged 1.9 million new infections and over 10,600 since then. What is happening? We thought they had it under control?
The Second Wave in India Just Doubled Up
There were 652,000 new cases between April 1, and April 7 2021. However, that number nearly doubled in the eight days since then. Moreover, the new infections mostly concentrate in a few populous states. These include Maharashtra which is home to India’s financial capital Mumbai.
Hospitals are also under pressure, with doctors asking for 100% oxygen supply at hospitals treating Covid-19 patients. Although the recovery rate is steady at 90% which is good.
India has now exceeded Brazil as second worst-infected country behind the United States. This is a scant two months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed a ‘momentous victory’ over the disease according to Times of India. But then two months is a long time in this pandemic as we are discovering …
Local Opinions Divided Why India’s Second Wave Seems Relentless
First, the central federal government blamed the people’s lack of commitment toward wearing masks and practicing safe distancing, according CNBC. Then others fingered the double variation of a COVID-19 mutant as Mumbai’s Maharashtra entered two weeks of lock down.
But other observers accuse recent election rallies where crowds gathered without masks, and a series of religious gatherings. While some states reportedly face ‘severe vaccine shortages that are halting their inoculation drives’ according to some media. A combination of these factors could be making India’s second wave seems relentless.
Meanwhile, the Indian government shifts the blame away from these factors, towards states failing to manage their vaccine roll outs efficiently. We know the Serum Institute of India manufacturing the Covishield vaccine is under pressure. And we hope the recently-approved Sputnik vaccine helps restore the supply.
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Preview Image: Confirmed New Cases in India
