Relatives perform the last rites for Covid-19 victims at a mass cremation ground in Bangalore, India on 18 May, 2021.
(EPA)
India has crossed the grim figure of 300,000 deaths due to Covid-19 as 4,454 fatalities were reported in the 24 hours ending Monday morning, becoming only the third country after the US and Brazil to cross this mark.
The country reported 222,315 new cases in the past 24 hours, taking the overall caseload to 26.75 million. Total fatalities are at 303,720.
Experts say that these figures are largely an undercount and the actual numbers are higher than official data, but it’s not yet known by how much.
India’s Covid-19 response has been further complicated by the rising number of black fungus, known as mucormycosis, cases in coronavirus patients and a shortage of an anti-fungal drug used to treat the infection.
The government has said nearly 9,000 cases of black fungus have been reported so far in India.
Meanwhile, health officials in Britain have said that two doses of Covid-19 vaccine are effective against the variant that was first detected in India.
A study by Public Health England found the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was 88 per cent effective and AstraZeneca vaccine was 60 per cent effective against symptomatic disease from the B.1.617.2 variant two weeks after the second dose.
Indian state prepares for cyclone amid pandemic
Bracing for a cyclone, the Indian state of Odisha is preparing its Covid-19 hospitals to have alternate power backups.
The state chief minister has directed officials to ensure that hospitals have adequate supply of medical oxygen and medicines.
The Indian Meteorological Department has said the cyclone is likely to cross Odisha-West Bengal coast around 26 May as a very severe cyclonic storm.
Akshita Jain24 May 2021 07:08
India ‘late to the table” in buying vaccines, says virologist
India delayed the process of buying Covid-19 vaccines in bulk and may now have few options available, top virologist Dr Gagandeep Kang told NDTV in an interview.
States in India have reported a shortage of vaccines and some have been forced to suspend vaccinations. India has fully vaccinated only 3.8 per cent of its population.
Dr Kang said that a better option would be to approach Indian manufacturers. “There are multiple manufacturers who are ready to make vaccines that are in clinical trials. We don’t have the results of their studies, but why are we not doing at-risk investments in those manufacturers?” she asked.
Akshita Jain24 May 2021 06:41
Passengers skip Covid-19 test at train station in India
Passengers who arrived in the Indian state of Assam rushed out of a train station in an attempt to avoid the mandatory Covid-19 test.
The incident happened at the Jagiroad station in Assam. Railway authorities said the crowd was more than expected, and they are now tracing people to get them tested.
Akshita Jain24 May 2021 06:26
India looks at WHO recognition for homegrown vaccine
The Indian government is reportedly working to get Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin clearance from the World Health Organisation and European Medicines Agency.
This comes amid reports that Indians inoculated with Covaxin may not be allowed to travel internationally because the vaccine is not part of WHO’s Emergency Use List yet.
The Hindu reported that India’s external affairs ministry has been tasked with looking at the matter.
Akshita Jain24 May 2021 06:02
Indian state says unable to get Covid-19 vaccines directly from Moderna
The Indian state of Punjab has said that US pharmaceutical firm Moderna refused to send supplies of its Covid-19 vaccines and said it can only deal with the federal government.
Punjab, like several other states in the country, has flagged a shortage of doses in recent days. It was forced to stop vaccination for some categories of adults because of the shortage.
Punjab official Vikas Garg said that the state government had also approached manufacturers of Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and Sputnik vaccines, according to Reuters.
Akshita Jain24 May 2021 05:48
India’s Covid-19 death toll surpasses 300,000
India’s overall death toll from Covid-19 has crossed 300,000 after 4,454 fatalities were recorded over the 24 hours ending Monday morning.
This makes India only the third country after the US and Brazil to record more than 300,000 deaths.
The daily infections rose by 222,315, taking the caseload to 26.75 million.
Experts say the real number of coronavirus cases and deaths might be much higher than those being officially recorded.
Akshita Jain24 May 2021 05:39
Good morning, and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of the coronavirus pandemic for Monday 24 May, 2021.
Akshita Jain24 May 2021 05:12
