Record numbers of Covid-19 deaths and crippling medical shortages have forced India to turn to global allies for help as the country battles a catastrophic second wave of infections. The surge in new infections has pushed the country’s health system to breaking point, with hospitals running out of critical supplies of oxygen and available beds to treat the seriously ill. More than 20 patients died at one private hospital after oxygen supplies ran low. Shortages have pushed the government to run special trains to send oxygen to the worst-hit cities and some hospitals have been forced to turn away patients. The suspected role of a new “B1617” variant in India’s second wave has alarmed public health experts, with the Health Service Executive saying last week three cases of the variant have been detected in Ireland.

Source: The Irish Times April 26, 2021 00:50 UTC