Washington: America's top infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci on Tuesday said that India is in such "dire straits" because it made the "incorrect assumption" that they were finished with the COVID-19 and opened up prematurely. India has been severely affected by the unprecedented second wave of the coronavirus and hospitals in several states are reeling under the shortage of health workers, vaccines, oxygen, drugs and beds. Director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Dr Fauci is the chief medical advisor to US President Joe Biden. "One of the important things is don't ever underestimate the situation," Fauci said as he referred to India’s incorrect assumption and premature opening up. After recording over four lakh fresh cases for four consecutive days, India witnessed a single-day rise of 3,66,161 COVID-19 cases on Monday and 3,29,942 infections on Tuesday.

Source: Mint May 12, 2021 02:00 UTC