The Delhi capital, India, on Monday ordered a six-day blockade as daily COVID-19 cases nationwide hit a new record and the health care system collapsed under the weight of new infections.
Hospitals in India are struggling with a lack of beds, oxygen and key drugs, as infections exceed 15 million, the second only after the United States.
“Delhi’s health system is not able to take in large numbers of patients,” Prime Minister Arvind Kejriwal said in a virtual press briefing on Monday.
“If a blockage is not implemented now the situation will go beyond control.”
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has canceled a planned trip to India next week because of the coronavirus, his office said. Read more
Less than 100 critical care beds were available in New Delhi with a population of more than 20 million people, Kejriwal said on Sunday as social media was flooded with complaints.
Daily COVID-19 cases in India rose a record 273,810 on Monday. Deaths recorded a record 1,619 to 178,769.
Delhi is blocked on Monday night.
It joins about 13 other states across the country that have decided to impose restrictions, blocking heels or blockades in their cities, including India’s richest state, Maharashtra, and the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gujarat, where the city industrial Ahmedabad is also struggling with a lack of beds.
Criticism has grown over how the Modi administration handled India’s second pandemic wave, with religious festivals and election rallies attended by thousands.
Leaders, including Interior Minister Amit Shah, will hold road shows and public meetings on Monday.
Hong Kong said late Sunday that the Asian financial center will suspend flights from India, Pakistan and the Philippines on Tuesday for two weeks. Read more
On Monday, India administered nearly 123.9 million doses of the vaccine, which is the largest in the world after the United States and China, although it ranks much lower in per capita vaccination.
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