COVID-19: fear returns as infections reach a new peak in India
In just ten days the number of new cases reported rose nine folds in the country. Starting today healthcare staff and seniors with co-morbidities can receive the third, booster shot. State elections set for February-March will go ahead, whilst schools are closed again for many children. Meanwhile, the Church has mobilised for the poorest.
Mumbai (AsiaNews) – In India too, the new wave of COVID-19 fuelled by the Omicron variant is getting worse by the day, raising concerns among many.
Last spring, the country was brought to its knees by the pandemic, with makeshift pyres set up parks to cremate victims’ bodies.
Now, after a few months of respite, the data on infections show an rapid upward trend. Today alone, 179,723 new cases were reported, a number not seen for more than six months.
However, the speed with which the virus is spreading is striking: until 10 days ago, daily new infections averaged less than 20,000.
So far, the number of daily deaths remains low – 146 today – but the pressure on hospitals is beginning to rise.
The Health Ministry estimates that hospitalisations are limited “to 5-10 per cent of cases compared to 20 per cent of the wave in May 2021”.
In recent months, India’s vaccination campaign has made important progress with a total of more than 1.5 billion doses administered.
However, in terms of the population, the aforementioned figure means that only 46.2 per cent have received the first two doses, whilst a third has not received any.
Meanwhile, starting today, health authorities have begun administering the third, booster shot to health staff and seniors with prior medical conditions.
In this context, the decision by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to go ahead with elections in five states (Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab and Manipur) in seven phases between 10 February and 7 March has raised eyebrows.
Many fear that the vote could become another superspreading event, as was the case last year in West Bengal.
Faced with such concern, the ECI banned election rallies until 15 January and removed the picture of Prime Minister Modi from all vaccination certificates in the five states.
Many activists have raised doubts about the wisdom of the decision, pointing to the fact that whilst elections have not not postponed, schools have been closed.
Many Indian children have already lost two school years and it is feared that further shutdowns could worsen the scourge of child brides and child labour, as well as increase malnutrition among children.
Another source of concern is the situation of the elderly, who are 8 per cent of the population; they too are at high risk of marginalisation.
For this reason, even in this new stage of the COVID emergency, the Catholic Church of India has continued its effort to reach out to the most marginalised and the homeless.
At the shrine of the Child Jesus in Nashik (Maharashtra), “warm clothes and some New Year sweets” were handed out, said the shrine’s rector Fr Errol Fernandes SJ, speaking to AsiaNews. “Keep praying for our work with the poor. Thanks for your generous contributions,” he added.
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04/05/2020 17:02
08/07/2020 09:51
