Corona Update: 3,52,991 New cases and over 2800 deaths; Nearly 551 Medical Oxygen Plants to be Set Up Under PM-Cares Fund
New Delhi: India set a new record consecutively for the fifth day with 3,52,991 new infections and 2,812 deaths in the past 24hours, pushing the country’s health facilities into the dark. Several neighbouring countries like the US, Britain, France and Germany have offered support as the unprecedented surge plummets the country’s hospitals.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the second wave of coronavirus has “shaken the country”. India’s top priority right now is to fight Covid, the Prime Minister said in his monthly radio address “Mann Ki Baat”. 551 medical oxygen generation plants will be set up across the country, using the PM-Cares Fund. “Oxygen plants in every district to ensure adequate oxygen availability… An important decision that will boost oxygen availability to hospitals and help people across the nation.” PM Modi said in a tweet.
US President Joe Biden tweeted to help India in unprecedented times in favour of its assistance the country provided in the first wave when the Senate contracted the pandemic. The US confirmed on Sunday it will “immediately” make available sources of raw materials required to scale up production of the Covishield coronavirus vaccine in India.
Boris Johnson, UK PM said, ” Life-saving medical equipment, including hundreds of oxygen concentrators and ventilators, are being sent from the United Kingdom to India “to support efforts to prevent the tragic loss of life from this terrible virus.”
The European Union, Germany and Israel have also offered help. “Upon request for assistance by #India, we have activated the #EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The EU will do its utmost to mobilise assistance to support the people of IN. Our #ERCC is already coordinating EU MS that are ready to provide urgently needed #oxygen & medicine rapidly,” tweeted Janez Lenarcic, the European Commissioner for Crisis Management.
Considering the grim conditions rising vigorously, the Delhi government announced the extension of its lockdown by another one week.