India’s COVID-19 crisis worsens despite strict lockdowns

Total COVID-19 cases in India hit the mark of 400,000 people for the fourth consecutive day on Sunday despite strict lockdowns to control the virus.

The total death fatalities have reached 4,092 people in the past 24 hours, rising the overall death toll to 242,362 people, India’s health ministry reported.

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation estimates the death toll in India will reach 1 million by August of this year, Reuters reported.

Cumulative number of COVID-19 infected patients have reached to 22.3 million people.

The highest ever single-day COVID-19 death toll is announced amid stricter lockdowns in India.

According to Reuters, experts believe the real number of COVID-19 cases and the death toll is likely to be much higher than the official announcement.  

Tallies rise as Tamil Nadu region known for its automobile manufacturing including BMW, Daimler, Hyundai, Ford, Nissan, and Renault announced to move from a partial to full lockdown on Monday.

Neighboring Karnataka state extended a total shutdown late on Friday, its capital is famous for being a hub for major tech offices, home to major companies including Google, Amazon, and Cisco.

India considers imposing a national lockdown, just like the first wave as half of its states imposed total lockdown, and the rest of the regions are partially shutdown.

A new drug called 2-deoxy-D-glucose was approved after clinical trials indicated its efficacy in supporting the recovery of COVID-19 patients, the drug has reduced dependence on supplemental oxygen.

The drug was jointly developed by India’s state-run Defense Research and Development Organization and Hyderabad-based Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd, Reuters reported.

India’s vaccine maker currently struggles to produce and distribute Coronavirus jabs to control the pandemic, the country has administered over 167 million vaccine doses but reports indicate only 2 percent of its 1.4 billion people have received the two doses needed to fully immunize human bodies against the virus.

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