INDIA EXPORTS ITS VACCINES AS NEW WAVE TAKES GRIP AT HOME
▶ Doctors fear that hospitals will be overrun amid four-fold increase in infections in a month
Indian hospitals are struggling to cope with a surge in coronavirus cases as a sluggish vaccination programme fails to halt a second wave.
Infections fell to below 9,000 a day in early February from a peak of almost 100,000 in September, but there has been a four-fold rise this month.
More than 43,000 cases were recorded on Saturday – the highest daily spike since November, taking the total tally to 11.6 million. India is now the third most infected country after the US and Brazil by overall case numbers.
At least six of India’s 28 states and eight union territories promised new curfews.
Five big cities in Maharashtra state, including Mumbai, are recording thousands of new cases every day. On Saturday the state recorded 27,000 cases – the highest single-day toll since the pandemic hit the country last January.
Mumbai’s authorities said that from today they would perform random Covid-19 tests at malls and railway stations. They said failure to co-operate would result in prosecution.
Hospitals across the country’s financial hub, which is home to nearly 20 million, are being deluged with patients.
Many had closed their Covidcare wards following a dip in cases. Admissions have since doubled.
“In February the hospital had 20 patients, now it has 46,” Dr Hemant Deshmukh, dean of King Edward Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, told The National.
“We are anticipating 5,000 cases a day by the end of this month because of increased testing.”
Cities like Pune, Nagpur and Thane have imposed curfews.
Experts say the resurgence is a result of mass disregard for preventive measures like wearing masks and social distancing combined with the emergence of new virus strains and a sluggish vaccination programme.
“People felt that the pandemic is over because vaccines are here,” said Dr Randeep Guleria, a member of India’s National Covid Task Force.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week said quick and decisive steps were needed to halt what he described as an emerging second peak.
India imposed a monthslong lockdown last March that slowed the pandemic but triggered an economic recession.
A gradual relaxation of restrictions led to a spurt in commercial and social activity.
India’s Health Ministry yesterday said that the Kumbh Mela festival in Haridwar could become a breeding ground for the virus.
Five million Hindu pilgrims have already attended the festival and an equal number are expected in the northern city in coming weeks.
Dr Shahid Jameel, a leading virologist, said the country could not rely on its vaccination programme to defeat the virus.
“What would help most is a behavioural change. People must wear masks and wear them properly. They must also avoid crowded places and large gatherings should be discouraged,” Dr Jameel said.
“It is not possible to make vaccinations mandatory due to a supply problem.”
India approved two locally manufactured vaccines to get the world’s biggest vaccination drive under way in January, pledging to inoculate 300 million by the end of July.
But the programme remains open only to select groups, including health workers, people over the age of 60 and those with comorbidities who are above the age of 45.
Many have skipped the voluntary programme, with only half of 10 million health workers opting to be vaccinated.
About 40 million doses have been administered, covering 2.3 per cent of the population, sparking criticism over the government’s policy to export and donate vaccines globally.
India has exported 60 million doses, including “gifts” under its vaccine diplomacy policy, almost 50 per cent more than its domestic consumption.