- Much-needed medical supplies have begun arriving in New Delhi as the number of deaths from COVID-19 deaths nears 200,000
- The United Kingdom sent ventilators and oxygen concentrators, while the U.S. has promised to send coronavirus vaccine supplies and oxygen
- Australia, Germany and Ireland have all committed to sending oxygen concentrators and ventilators, while France has promised eight large oxygen-generating plants
- In the last week around 300,000 new cases of the virus have been recorded each day, with reports many hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx of patients
- Australia has decided to suspend all flights to and from India until May 15, after a returned traveler sparked a COVID-19 outbreak in Perth
Much-needed medical supplies have begun arriving in New Delhi, as the number of COVID-19 deaths in India nears 200,000.
The United Kingdom has sent ventilators and oxygen concentrators to the region, but Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the U.K. had no extra vaccines to spare.
The Biden Administration in the U.S. has offered to send both, pledging to make vaccine raw materials and oxygen available to India.
Today, I spoke with Prime Minister @narendramodi and pledged America’s full support to provide emergency assistance and resources in the fight against COVID-19. India was there for us, and we will be there for them.
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 26, 2021
Australia, Germany and Ireland have all committed to sending oxygen concentrators and ventilators, while France has promised to provide eight large oxygen-generating plants.
The extra help comes as more than 300,000 new cases of the virus have been recorded each day in India, with many hospitals in the major cities struggling to cope with the influx of patients.
There have been reports of violence breaking out outside hospitals as loved ones fight for their sick family members to receive treatment.
The overall number of COVID-19 cases in India has eclipsed Brazil as the second largest amount in the world, with over 17.63 million cases recorded to date according to John Hopkins University.
As a result, Australia has decided to suspend all flights to and from India until May 15 to try and stop the spread of COVID-19.
The decision by the Prime Minister comes after a returned traveller from India sparked a COVID-19 outbreak in Perth, first spreading within hotel quarantine and then out into the community.
Scott Morrison said repatriation flights will also be suspended for the next two weeks, but the government is committed to bringing stranded Australians home.
“We don’t think the answer is to just forsake those in India and just shut them off,” the PM said on Tuesday.
“I don’t see this as a problem we have to solve, I see this as a group of people we need to help,” he added.