By IT Correspondent
New Delhi, April 29:
Given the COVID-19 crisis worsening at an astonishing pace, the US’s State Department in a Level 4 travel advisory, on Wednesday advised its citizens to get out of India as soon as possible.
The US state department, in a highest of its kind Level 4 travel advisory, advised U.S. citizens “not to travel to India or to leave as soon as it is safe to do so.” There are 14 direct daily flights between India and the U.S. and other services that connect through Europe, the department https://www.google.com/url?q=https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/India.html%23/&source=gmail&ust=1619788404104000&usg=AFQjCNHnga2wcjl0FCN1KHoEgf76-Tggwg”>said. Access to medical care is severely limited due to COVID-19 cases. U.S. citizens wishing to depart should use available commercial options now. Daily direct flights to the US and flights via Paris and Frankfurt are available, it added.
“Indian authorities and hospitals are struggling to cope with unprecedented COVID-19 infections and deaths. Official data on Thursday showed new cases rose by a staggering 379,257 over the prior 24 hours, another record, while 3,645 additional lives were lost. More than 204,800 people have died” it said.
U.S. citizens are reporting being denied admittance to hospitals in some cities due to a lack of space,” the https://www.google.com/url?q=https://in.usembassy.gov/health-alert/&source=gmail&ust=1619788404104000&usg=AFQjCNFbN663arCPiZecuwkTrQlcO_7vpg”>website of the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India said in a health alert. All routine U.S. citizen services and visa services at the U.S. Consulate General Chennai have been cancelled.
The unfolding tragedy is prompting some of the world’s biggest corporations to organize aid. https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/AMZN:US&source=gmail&ust=1619788404104000&usg=AFQjCNHqHC-SfMnPcFDRxkpoZlBYhfvGBQ”>Amazon.com Inc. is harnessing its global logistics supply chain to airlift 100 ICU ventilator units from the U.S. and the equipment will reach India in the next two weeks. https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/MSFT:US&source=gmail&ust=1619788404104000&usg=AFQjCNGhQF4-0MelVOWm72J8Pl4SM-ZFcw”>Microsoft Corp Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella said he was “heartbroken” by the situation and the tech behemoth is using its voice, resources and technology to aid relief efforts and help buy oxygen concentrators.
The virus has gripped India’s populace with a severity not seen in its first wave. Mass funeral pyres, lines of ambulances outside overcrowded hospitals and desperate pleas on social media for oxygen pose a challenge of tackling the latest outbreak.
In the meanwhile as per union health ministry, the total number of COVID-19 infected people reached up to 1,73,76,524 of which 2,04,832 died. On Wednesday 3,79,257 people tested positive, 3645 died and 2,69,507 were discharged across the country. The number of tests conducted reached 28,44,71,979 on Wednesday, as per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).