Spike in pandemic cases in India has reached record levels

Coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths across the globe are on the rise and so too are infections.

In the past two weeks, the number of deaths worldwide has risen 12 per cent and daily cases are up 27 per cent. The situation is most pronounced in India, where cases have exploded to more than 300,000 per day.

The country has set a global daily record for new cases for the third day straight, with more than 346,000 new infections reported. This situation is a grave cause for concern given that the spike is already affecting COVID-vaccine production.

The surge has left hospitals overburdened and out of oxygen supplies and beds, prompting some to shut admissions, the Associated Press is reporting.

Yesterday the authorities in India were scrambling to get oxygen tanks to suffocating patients, using special Oxygen Express trains, trucks and air force planes to move tankers.

Hospitals running out of oxygen

“Every hospital is running out (of oxygen). We are running out,” Dr Sudhanshu Bankata, executive director of a leading hospital in New Delhi, told New Delhi Television.

News out of India says the country’s health care system is collapsing with widespread pleas by the young and old, rich and poor for oxygen, hospital beds and drugs.

India’s Health Ministry reported yesterday another 2,624 COVID-related deaths over the past day, bringing India’s virus death toll to over 189,000.

However, Indian funeral workers say the true number of casualties is far higher.

This week, cities were forced to hold makeshift mass graves. Prime Minister Modi, who this week said India has been slammed by a COVID storm, has continued to hold mass political rallies.

Experts warn before this spike abates, a third wave is on the way.