Although the pandemic started back in March 2020, countries across the globe are still battling this virus and working towards protecting their citizens. However, the situation in some countries is more devastating than others. The cases in India are rising through the roof causing the deaths of thousands. India, the home of 1.3 billion individuals, is now the second country in the entire world to have the most Covid-19 cases right after the United States of America. For this reason, it pushes the question: Why exactly are the cases surging in India?
India’s COVID-19 Crisis is the product of many issues combined. A particular source of this crisis is the new Covid variants that developed in India. One of the variants is known as B.1.617 which was initially identified in the Maharashtra State in India. Scientific research also discusses that this variant has been more transmissible than the other existing variants. This variant was known to have an “edge” over other variants and therefore, it spread wide across India becoming a variant of concern. The other variant developed in India is known as B.1.618 and it was found in West Bengal. However, in comparison to B.1.617, this variant was less powerful. Nevertheless, India’s situation grew worse as it fought with the variants developed in the country along with other variants originating from other countries such as the variant detected in the UK and Brazil. As a result, there has been a massive shortage of medical oxygen, hospital beds and antiviral drugs to assist in the treatment of these patients. Consequently, pushing India into a cycle of receiving more Covid-19 cases and a higher death count.
However, as previously mentioned, India’s current situation is indeed due to several other issues such as the country’s vaccination shortage. Although India is an important supplier of vaccines, less than five percent of India’s population is fully vaccinated. Due to India’s miscalculations in planning, there has become a limited supply of vaccines to be administered. Additionally, as the officials in India did not predict its second wave, the plan faltered and they were not prepared for the amount of cases to come. As a result, the country’s vaccination shortages will continue through July, causing this crisis to continue. Moreover, the existence of vaccine nationalism also contributes to India’s crisis. Vaccine nationalism is when a country attempts to secure doses of vaccines for its own residents and prioritises its own domestic markets before they are made available to other countries. The issue with this is that it pushes countries with lesser resources and bargaining power to be at a disadvantage. In other words, it puts low and middle income countries also known as ‘developing’ countries at a position where they will experience a larger number of cases. As India is classified as a developing country, it then falls under these countries who face the drawbacks of ‘Vaccine Nationalism’. Moreover, in an interview that took place in April, Bill Gates mentioned how he does not want to share COVID-19 vaccine tech to developing countries worldwide until the developed nations are fully vaccinated. This thought is seen as harmful as it displays the lack of willingness to help and support countries who do not hold the same amount of economic power as a “developed” country. Moreover, Bill Gates mentioned that it is also expensive to share the vaccine tech with developing nations and this seems concerning as it alludes to the idea that wealthy nations and individuals value profits over the thousand lives who are at stake due to this pandemic.
Aside from the variants detected and the vaccination shortage, the carelessness and neglect from the government and the general public of India was a major factor in this COVID crisis. According to scientists, the current politicians in power ignored their warnings regarding the possible surge of COVID cases. Due to their ignorance of the signs given, the second wave actually occurred in India resulting in its current COVID crisis. Additionally, the politicians have also appealed to keep the Kumbh Mela that attracts thousands of devotees every year. Consequently, nearly 2,000 devotees tested positive for COVID-19 in a week. Although this festival has religious importance, it puts thousands of individuals at risk displaying disregard concerning the severity of the situation. However, the indifference regarding the pandemic does not end here. These politicians demonstrated that they valued their respective political positions more than the many lives suffering due to the COVID situation. They’ve encouraged a month-long election in West Bengal State and campaigned unmasked at massive rallies. Moreover, they hosted a rally in Asansol, West Bengal on April 17th when India reported 261,394 cases that day. Furthermore, as of April 26th, the total number of cases in just Bengal reached 94,949 with 11,009 deaths. The central government’s carelessness regarding the pandemic influenced their followers and the general public. As a consequence, individuals began to neglect the masks and the regular COVID-19 protocols. People began taking part in many gatherings and walked around with no masks, following the many government officials who, too, also disregarded the COVID-19 protocols.
However, has India’s situation improved since then? The answer is, yes. As of June 18th, 2021, India reports state that active cases have declined below 800,000 after 73 days. Although the number of cases is still very high, there has been a large improvement. We can only hope that more vaccination doses can be administered and the COVID-19 protocols can be reinforced again properly. Besides hoping, we can also do a few things to help the COVID-19 crisis in India still. Through India’s time of crisis, we can reach out and support organizations that are providing help to the country through this situation:
Association for India’s Development
CARE India
Indian Red Cross Society
You can also visit mutualaidindia.com to find multiple ways to help India during these difficult times. Overall, as India is experiencing this COVID crisis, we should try our best to reach out and assist them. Individuals are suffering and dying due to several issues merged, causing a disaster. The weak and poor are also being targeted because of the carelessness of government officials and the public too. We must get together and assist them in these times, even if it’s by utilizing your voice and platform to spread awareness. India needs our help.
Written by: Sarbani
Edited by: Zin
Designed by: Bailey
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