India overrun by massive virus outbreak

India is overwhelmed daily by hundreds of thousands of new cases of coronavirus, bringing pain, fear and anxiety into many lives as locks have been placed in Delhi and other cities.

India’s health ministry on Wednesday reported 295,041 new cases with 2,023 deaths, bringing the total deaths to 182,553. India has recorded 15.6 million cases since the onset of the pandemic, the second highest behind the United States.

Newly reported cases have exceeded 200,000 a day for a week – people get infected faster than they can be tested.

‘This time, infection is spreading so fast that people are not getting time to get medicine. Many people die before we can get a test report, ‘said dr. SK Pandey of the Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences in Lucknow, capital of the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, said.

Many have blamed politicians for allowing super-distribution opportunities such as mass rallies to take place.

Religious leaders and hundreds of thousands of religious Hindus descended on the banks of the Ganges River in the northern Indian city of Haridwar last month for a major Kumbh festival. They believe that diving into holy water will wash away their sins and prevent rebirth. A prominent Hindu religious leader died shortly afterwards of COVID-19.

Interior Minister Narendra Modi, Interior Minister Amit Shah, as well as opposition politicians attended massive election rallies in five populous states, with tens of thousands of supporters wearing no masks or social distances.

Tens of thousands of farmers protesting against new agricultural reform laws have been camping on the outskirts of the Indian capital in overcrowded tents and temporary townships since November.

Modi boosted in a nationwide speech Tuesday night, saying the government and the pharmaceutical industry are stepping up efforts to address the shortages of hospital beds, oxygen, tests and vaccines.

But, he admits, the “increase in infections has come like a storm and a great battle lies ahead.”