India Covid-19 cases reach 'truly frightening' surge as global death toll hits 3 million

The government is contending with more economic pain as lockdowns are enforced for millions of citizens

A pedestrian walks past a wall mural thanking frontline workers following restrictions imposed by the state government amidst rising Covid-19 coronavirus cases, in Mumbai. AFP

The country of almost 1.4 billion people is seeing a crippling surge of infections that are threatening to overwhelm hospitals in hard-hit cities. AP Photo

Health workers put on personal protective equipment prior to caring for patients at a makeshift Covid-19 quarantine facility set up in a banquet hall in New Delhi, India. Bloomberg

A patient with breathing problems is wheeled inside a Covid-19 hospital for treatment in Ahmedabad, India. Reuters

India's makeshift rail carriage hospitals. Courtesy Ministry of Railways

A patient wears an oxygen mask as she lies inside an ambulance waiting in a queue to enter a Covid-19 hospital in Ahmedabad, India. Reuters

People wearing protective masks wait to enter the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus railway station in Mumbai, India. Reuters

Patients wait inside an ambulance in a queue to enter a Covid-19 hospital amidst the coronavirus disease pandemic, Ahmedabad, India. Reuters

A patient with breathing problems is wheeled inside a Covid-19 hospital for treatment in Ahmedabad, India. Reuters

People are administered the Covid-19 vaccine in Mumbai, India. AP Photo

A healthcare worker checks the temperature of a rice mill worker during a coronavirus disease vaccination drive at Bavla village on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, India. Reuters

Beds with oxygen support are seen at a recently constructed quarantine facility for patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease in Mumbai, India. Reuters

People wearing protective masks stand outside a railway station amidst the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Mumbai, India. Reuters

New Delhi led major cities across India into a weekend lockdown on Saturday as the country confronts a fierce new coronavirus wave, with more than 230,000 daily new cases and families clamouring for drugs and hospital beds.

News of the surge in cases in India comes as concern mounts around the world about the prevalence of new variants of Covid-19 which could reduce the effectiveness of some vaccines.

Globally, the toll from the pandemic has exceeded three million, with the pace of deaths accelerating, according to Johns Hopkins University data released on Saturday.

Deaths are increasingly borne by the world’s poorest places.

India’s Covid crisis 

Hopes that South Asia might have beaten the pandemic dimmed as India saw over two million new cases this month alone and Bangladesh and Pakistan were also imposing shutdowns.

This is a wake-up call to the world. Vaccines must be available to everyone, everywhere

India added another record 234,000 cases on Saturday to pass 14.5 million overall and 1,341 deaths, taking its pandemic total to 175,649 deaths.

The per capita rates remain low by international comparison, but the speed at which cases are rising led the international Red Cross to call the South Asian surge “truly frightening”.

India now has three times the daily cases of the United States, the world’s worst-hit country.

After a national lockdown a year ago led to an economic slump, the Indian government is desperate to avoid a second stoppage. But Delhi joined Mumbai in ordering all but essential services to close.

Landmarks such as the historic Red Fort where tens of thousands of people would normally gather were deserted.

“Not one person has turned up,” said security guard Anil Dayan. Police checked many of the cars that strayed on to the streets.

The city of more than 20 million people now has the most daily cases in India and restaurants, malls and gyms were all closed. Weddings can go ahead with guests limited to 50 people, while only 20 can attend funerals.

“Don’t panic. All essential services will be available through the weekend,” Delhi's chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said.

Maharashtra, which includes Mumbai, Gujarat and IT hub Bangalore’s home state Karnataka have also imposed restrictions on movement.

Uttar Pradesh state, home to some 240 million people, has ordered a one-day lockdown on Sunday.

Similarly, the northern state of Uttarakhand has restricted gatherings to 200 people – but exempted the huge Hindu Kumbh Mela festival.

The gathering in Haridwar has attracted up to 25 million people since January, including about 4.6 million this week alone, with most people ignoring Covid-19 guidelines.

More than 1,600 people tested positive for coronavirus in Haridwar in barely three days this week and experts fear that many devotees will take the virus back to their home towns and villages.

The latest round of voting also went ahead in the West Bengal state election with long queues forming outside polling stations. Rival parties have been holding huge rallies in recent weeks again fuelling super-spreader fears.

In the state capital Kolkata, railway employee Samaresh Tapna fell sick after attending one such gathering and was admitted to hospital.

“I felt angry with myself... I cursed my fate,” the 42-year-old told AFP.

An Indian paramilitary soldier stands vigil around a polling booth as voters wait to cast their votes during the fifth phase of West Bengal state elections. AP Photo

Hospitals are running short of oxygen and widely prescribed medicines such as remdesivir and favipiravir, prompting desperate people to pay exorbitant black market rates.

Social media is full of horror stories of desperate calls to help a loved one needing hospital treatment for Covid-19 or other complaints.

“I lost a cousin on Saturday. He was not admitted after a stroke. Tried four hospitals,” read one message on a Delhi neighbourhood WhatsApp group this week.

India’s drive to vaccinate its 1.3 billion people has also hit obstacles, with only 117 million shots administered so far and stocks running low, according to some local authorities.

“This is a wake-up call to the world. Vaccines must be available to everyone, everywhere, rich and poor to overcome this terrible pandemic,” said Udaya Regmi from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, describing conditions in South Asia as “truly frightening”.

“We must redouble our efforts to contain this disease as too many lives are at stake,” Mr Regmi said.