Alarm in India: world record of infections with 34 …

For the fourth consecutive day, India sets world record of nearly 350,000 coronavirus cases, then the New Delhi authorities, also concerned about the shortage of medical oxygen registered in their health system, decided extend custody for another week, until May 3.

“We have decided to extend the detention for a week. The ravages of the coronavirus continue and there is no truce. They all agree to prolong the imprisonment “, announced the head of government of New Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, on the closure initially scheduled until April 26.

The situation in the country, with 1300 million inhabitants, is critical: according to the authorities of the Ministry of Health, In the past 24 hours, 349,691 new cases and 2,767 coronavirus deaths have been recorded. The figures for the past 7 days are equally discouraging, with 2 million new infections, a 58% increase from the previous week.

The most affected city is New Delhi, the capital where 29 million inhabitants live, which has accumulated in the last 24 hours record 357 deaths from the virus and over 20,000 daily cases and had a positivity rate of up to 32%.

Last Monday at try to relieve Saturation of hospitals, collapsed due to lack of beds and oxygen, authorities ordered a lockdown that was to last for a week.

“We had imposed a 6-day blockade on Delhi. The blockade will last until next Monday at 5 a.m. Although the positivity rate has been reduced, Delhi has experienced a severe shortage of medical oxygen“Kejriwal lamented.” Everyone voted for the extension of the blockade. The positivity rate has reached 36-37% in recent days, although it has now declined slightly. Today, it is around 29%, ”he added.

To monitor the availability of oxygen, Delhi government has decided that manufacturers, suppliers and hospitals will update supply and consumption data every two hours in a portal created by it.

International aid

The European Union (EU) has announced that it is preparing to provide “assistance” to India by activating its European civil protection mechanism, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Sunday. .

“EU deploys resources to respond swiftly to India’s request for assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, “tweeted Von der Leyen, who said she was” alarmed by the epidemiological situation “in the Asian country.

The United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Pakistan have also offered assistance.. “We are working closely with our peers in the Indian government and will quickly deploy further assistance to the Indian people and their health heroes,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Twitter.

For his part, the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, assured this Sunday that “vital medical equipment, including hundreds of oxygen concentrators and ventilators, They now travel from the UK to India. The first shipment, which will be followed by others throughout the week, is expected to arrive in New Delhi early Tuesday, according to the British Foreign Office. A total of nine air containers will be shipped. Provisions.

Earlier, German Chancellor Angela Merkel foresaw her government to also prepare for an emergency aid shipment. “I want to express to the Indian people my condolences for the terrible suffering COVID-19 has again caused in their communities,” Merkel said in a joint message with her spokesperson, Steffen Seibert, via Twitter. “The fight against the pandemic is our common fight. Germany stands in solidarity with India and is urgently preparing a support mission,” he added.

Pakistan has also offered to help “As a gesture of solidarity with the people”. “Pakistan has offered assistance, including ventilators, oxygen supply kits, digital x-ray machines, personal protective equipment and related items,” the foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday.