COVID Situation In India Hugely Concerning: WHO Chief

United Nations: The COVID-19 situation in India is hugely concerning, with several states witnessing the rise in the number of cases, hospitalisations and deaths, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday that the pandemic’s second year will be “far more deadly” than the first for the world.

According to Ghebreyesus, WHO is responding to India’s COVID-19 surge and has shipped thousands of oxygen concentrators, tents for mobile field hospitals, masks and other medical supplies.

“India remains hugely concerning, with several states continuing to see a worrying number of cases, hospitalisations and deaths,” he was quoted as saying at the daily media briefing by news agency PTI.

“And we thank all the stakeholders who are supporting India,” said the WHO Director-General.

The deadly second wave of the pandemic is currently brutalising India, with 3,43,144 people testing positive for the virus on Friday. This took the country’s caseload to 2,40,46,809. The toll stands at 2,62,317.

The COVID-19 tally crossed the 10 million mark in India on December 19 and in under six months’ time it has doubled, overtaking the grim milestone of 20 million cases on May 4.

“Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Egypt are just some of the countries that are dealing with spikes in cases and hospitalisations,” the WHO chief said.

There are also spurts in some African countries. “These countries are in heightened response mode and WHO will continue to provide support in all ways possible,” Ghebreyesus said.

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