New Delhi- India yet again witnessed a new highest single-day spike in the cases of the novel coronavirus as a deadly second wave sweeps the country with 3.52 Lakh New Cases and 2,812 Covid-induced fatalities, taking the total active caseload in the country to 28.07 lakh cases. So far, there have been 1.95 lakh covid-induced deaths from across the nation. The fresh surge in the cases of this deadly infectious disease takes the total tally of cases to 1.73 crores.
Today marks the fifth consecutive day that India reported over 3 lakh cases on a daily basis. A staggering 10 lakh cases have been reported in the last 72 hours. Read more
The top hospitals continue to face acute shortages of medical oxygen and hospital beds. The patients, their kins, and friends have taken to social media by storm helplessly calling out for medical oxygen and life-saving drugs.
The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, in his monthly radio address "Mann Ki Baat" on Sunday, said that the second wave of the novel coronavirus has "shaken the country" and that it is the government's top priority now to fight this deadly infectious disease.
US President Joe Biden assured to provide assistance to India in its time of need. Taking to Twitter, he said, "Just as India sent assistance to the United States as our hospitals were strained early in the pandemic, we are determined to help India in its time of need." The US then confirmed on Sunday that it will provide India with the necessary raw materials needed to manufacture the Covishield coronavirus vaccine in India. Read more
British Prime Minister also laid out a helping hand to India by saying that hundreds of oxygen concentrators and ventilators are being sent to India in order to prevent the tragic loss of lives from this deadly virus.
The European Union, Germany, and Israel also offered their help to India.
"Upon request for assistance by #India, we have activated the #EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The EU will do its utmost to mobilize assistance to support the people of IN. Our #ERCC is already coordinating EU MS that are ready to provide urgently needed #oxygen & medicine rapidly," tweeted Janez Lenarcic, the European Commissioner for Crisis Management.
Narendra Modi on Sunday said that 551 medical oxygen generation plants will be set up using the PM-Cares Fund all across the country.
The National Capital of India has extended the lockdown for another week as the cases of the coronavirus continue to rise. Delhi CM Aravind Kejriwal decided to act upon in accordance with the public opinion, which wanted a further extension of the lockdown.
From Saturday onwards, the government of India has made all adults eligible for administering the coronavirus vaccine with states like UP, Assam, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra providing vaccination for free.
Meanwhile, Assam as of Sunday reported 1844 fresh COVID-19 cases taking the active caseload to 15,470. The highest cases have been reported from the districts of Kamrup Metro with 791 cases followed by Dibrugarh at 190, Nagaon at 83, and Kamprup Rural at 82. 14 deaths have been reported from the state with 8 cases from Kamprup Metro and 1 each from Barpeta, Dibrugarh, Kamrup Rural, Morigaon, Nalbari, and Sonitpur, taking the total death toll to 1200. The positivity rate for the virus is 5.48% while the recovery rate is 92.41%.