Fire kills 18 patients as India records 401,993 Covid-19 cases
A fire killed 18 Covid-19 patients at a hospital in western India yesterday as the country set yet another global record for new cases.
The health ministry reported 401,993 new cases in the preceding 24 hours, taking the total to more than 19.1 million, and 3,523 deaths, raising the toll to 211,853. Police said 31 patients were rescued from the fire at a hospital in Bharuch, a town in Gujarat state, only weeks after a fire killed 13 Covid-19 patients in neighbouring Maharashtra state.
Hospitals across India are under pressure, unable to meet the demand for ventilators, oxygen and medication.
Eight Covid-19 patients, including a doctor, died at a hospital in New Delhi yesterday after it ran short of oxygen supplies, the Press Trust of India reported.
With cases mounting, the government attempted to step up its faltering vaccination campaign yesterday by offering vaccines to everyone over 18.
Only 10 per cent of Indians have received one dose of a vaccine since January and only about 1.5 per cent have received two, even though India is one of the world’s biggest producers of vaccines. Some states have already said they do not have enough doses to expand the vaccination drive, including Maharashtra, one of the worst-affected areas in the country.
New Delhi yesterday extended its lockdown for a second time to curb the surge in new cases. All shops and factories will remain closed until May 9, except for those that provide essential services, such as grocery stores. People are not supposed to leave their homes, except for a handful of reasons such as seeking medical care or going to the airport or railway stations.
At least 18 Covid-19 patients died in a fire at a hospital in western India yesterday.
Hospital staff and firefighters rescued 31 patients at the Welfare Hospital in Bharuch, a city in Gujarat state. They are in a stable condition, said police officer B M Parmar.
The fire broke out in a Covid-19 ward on the ground floor of the hospital and was extinguished within an hour, the Press Trust of India quoted the fire service as saying.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the blaze.
Last month, 13 Covid-19 patients were killed in a fire in an intensive care unit at a hospital in Virar, to the north of Mumbai.
The latest deadly blaze came as India tackles a devastating second wave of coronavirus infections and deaths.
More than 400,000 new cases and about 3,500 fatalities were reported yesterday. It was another increase in daily cases after authorities recorded more than 300,000 new cases over 10 consecutive days.
The overall infection tally passed 19 million, making it the second-highest tally in the world after the US.
The Indian Health Ministry said the death toll now stood at 211,853.
Experts believe a lack of testing means the true scale of the pandemic is probably far greater.
The surge in cases means people in India are struggling to find space at hospitals for relatives and crematoriums are also full.
The government announced yesterday that the country’s vaccination campaign would be expanded to include all adults.
Hundreds of people queued to be vaccinated in Ahmedabad, the largest city in Gujarat, yesterday.
On Friday, the Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal told the public not to queue at vaccination centres and said more vaccine doses would arrive soon.
“Please do not line up outside vaccination centres. It can result in a law and order situation. It could also lead to a situation where there is no social distancing. Please do not do this,” Mr Kejriwal said.
Hospital workers and firefighters rescued 31 patients from the fire and police say they are in a stable condition