Coronavirus - Second Wave
By May 2021, cases of COVID-19 in India rose to a staggering 400,000 a day, leaving thousands in scrambling for oxygen, hospital beds, ambulances and ultimately, morgues across the country’s largest cities.
Some scientists had warned that a devastating second of infections would hit India and swamp its rickety healthcare system, but the Indian government chose not to act - leading to catastrophic consequences.
In a series of stories, I covered the government missteps before, during, and after the second wave.
Indian scientists: We didn’t back doubling of vaccine dosing gap
he Indian government doubled the gap between the two doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine without the agreement of the scientific group that it said recommended the increase, three members of the advisory body told Reuters.
Full story here.
India missed early alarm, let deadly coronavirus variant spread
A veteran public health expert warned top Indian officials in early March that a new variant of the coronavirus was spreading quickly in a rural district in the heart of the country and that the outbreak required urgent attention.
Full story here.
Scientists say India government ignored warnings amid coronavirus surge
A forum of scientific advisers set up by the government warned Indian officials in early March of a new and more contagious variant of the coronavirus taking hold in the country, five scientists who are part of the forum told Reuters.
Full story here.
‘Beg, borrow, steal’: the fight for oxygen among New Delhi’s hospitals
Hospitals in India's capital, renowned for some of the best medical care in the country, are unable to guarantee basic services and thousands of lives hang in the balance - a stark warning of how India's healthcare system is buckling amid the pandemic.
Full story here.
Why India is facing an oxygen crisis as COVID cases mount
By air, by train and by road, India is scrambling to move large quantities of medical oxygen to hospitals in its capital New Delhi and other areas hit hard by a record surge of COVID-19.
Full story here.
Twitter becomes platform of hope amid the despair of India’s COVID crisis
After spending hours fruitlessly calling government helplines in a search for a hospital bed for a critically ill COVID-19 patient, Indian lawyer Jeevika Shiv posted an SOS request on Twitter. Help came quickly.
Full story here.