India’s having a tough week.
The country of more than 1.3 billion is the focal point of a latest spike in COVID-19 infections around South Asia, recording more than 873,000 cases in the last week.
That’s 70% more than the week prior, The Straits Times explains.
India Overtakes Brazil as Country With 2nd Most COVID-19 Cases After U.S. With Total of 13.5M Cases
The record-high 168,000 cases reported yesterday (12 Apr) alone also made India the country with the second highest infection count in the world, with 13.5 million cases in total.
In contrast, Brazil reported about 497,000 cases in the last week, a 10% rise from the previous week.
The U.S. remains the worst-hit country in the world with close to 32 million cases. It reported nearly 490,000 in the last week, a 9% spike from the previous week. This spike is part of a larger climbing trend in the country.
Observers have pointed to large religious and political gatherings as potential causes behind the surge in infections. The recent Kumbh Mela festival saw hundreds of thousands of unmasked Hindu devotees congregate along the banks of the Ganges, and states with upcoming elections saw huge political rallies without safe distancing measures.
Authorities have warned that more extensive restrictions may be necessary unless the public comply with social distancing measures; Maharashtra, India’s second most populous state, has already imposed a weekend lockdown and a night curfew.
A “double mutant variant” of the virus, where two significant mutations occur together, has been detected in the state, and may pose heightened infectivity and resistance to vaccines. So far, however, there is insufficient evidence to attribute to it the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases, according to the BBC.
In response, Indian authorities have prohibited exports of the antiviral drug Remdesivir—thought to be effective as a treatment for COVID-19—and major exports of vaccines. A panel of experts has also recommended authorising the Russian Sputnik V vaccine for emergency use, as the government struggles to contain the deteriorating situation.
The Situation in South Asia
Elsewhere in South Asia, the situation is no less dire.
The Bangladeshi government has declared the closure of all offices and transport, international or domestic, for eight days starting tomorrow. This drastic measure came after the country recorded more than 684,000 cases overall, and after the number of daily cases skyrocketed to seven times the month before.
In Pakistan, the lagging pace of the country’s vaccination drive has led to a rare decision to allow private vaccine sales. Several vaccine centres sold out in days despite prices four times the international average, according to CNN.
The high prices, however, have alerted observers to inequality entrenched within the country. Private vaccine centres are chiefly available in the major cities, leaving rural residents with inadequate access. Even if one is fortunate enough to live near a vaccination centre, a dose of the Sputnik vaccine can cost up to 30% of an average household’s monthly income.
Feature Image: YURY TARANIK / Shutterstock.com
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