The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has said plans to send aid to India, which is grappling with a massive second wave of Covid-19 cases and deaths, are at an “advanced stage”, with Irish officials working throughout the weekend on efforts to deliver support to the subcontinent. A DFA spokesman said on Sunday afternoon that “given the urgency of the pandemic situation in India”, department staff were working with the health department, the HSE and the EU Civilian Protection Mechanism to figure out how best to send India support. Mr Coveney said it was likely India would be added to the State’s mandatory hotel quarantine list very shortly. He paid tribute to Indian healthcare workers in Ireland before writing that the Government was assessing plans to send oxygen and ventilators to the country. This commitment comes as the European Commission announced it was also planning to send oxygen and medicine to the country following a request from Delhi.

Source: The Irish Times April 25, 2021 17:26 UTC