India’s Covid-19 cases surge, death toll increase, New Dehli in lockdown
Covid-19 cases in India reached 273,810 cases on Monday, with a total of 178,769 deaths.
CAPE TOWN, April 19 (ANA) – The number of Covid-19 cases in India has reached a new high of 273,810 on Monday.
The country’s capital, New Delhi, declared a complete curfew beginning Monday night as hospitals around the country struggled with a lack of hospital beds and oxygen supplies, according to Al Jazeera.
In data released on Monday, India’s health ministry stated that the country’s Covid-19 deaths increased by a staggering 1,619 to a total of 178,769 deaths.
However, 24,462 cases were registered on Sunday, the largest single-day spike so far.
Maharashtra, the state which is home to India’s financial capital Mumbai, was the worst-affected district, accounting for nearly a third of the country’s 1.9 million Covid-19 cases.
During the lockdown, which begins Monday night, government departments and vital facilities such as clinics, supermarkets, and grocery stores will remain accessible.
India has the fourth-highest number of deaths globally, despite having a population of nearly 1.4 billion people, much higher than other countries.
“Delhi’s health system is unable to take more patients in big numbers…If a lockdown isn’t implemented now the situation will go beyond control,” Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said to various media houses in a virtual press conference on Monday.
“The lockdown doesn’t end the pandemic but slows it. We will use this week-long lockdown to improve our healthcare.”
Kejriwal also stated that the healthcare system was at a breaking point due to the deteriorating Covid-19 epidemic.
“I have always been against lockdowns, but this one will help us amplify the number of hospital beds in Delhi,” Kejriwal said.
Across social media, Indian civilians complained about a shortage of beds, oxygen tanks, and medications as citizen groups circulated helpline numbers and volunteer resources.
– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Devereaux Morkel
