The unprecedented explosion of new COVID cases – 19 in India, has brought to mind the images that we lived in the country in the spring of 2020 and in January of this year in California.
“It reinforces the The fact that it is a global pandemic and that no country is an island, in addition to the fact that a decrease in cases in the United States, does not mean that we are safe, ”said Virginia Senator Mark Warner who is also co-chair of the the Indian bench in the Senate during the videoconference “India battles the COVID cataclysm – 19 ”, organized by Ethnic Media Services
He said that he hopes what happened in India I went so far as to encourage unvaccinated Americans to get vaccinated.
“This disease can and will kill if we let it free, particularly in India do Where we have seen the horrible images of the invaded hospitals. This is not simply happening in India. The virus is spreading faster in Argentina and Brazil on a per capita basis. ”
So he said this is the opportunity for the world unite. “It is time for the United States to assert its leadership, particularly given the growing strength of the US-India relationship.”
Senator Warner revealed that they have sent a second letter to the President Biden asking him to extend efforts to help India.
“The current assistance package for $ 100 millions, has made it possible to advance with the shipment of raw materials so that they can increase the vaccine production in India, but they have also been sent oxygen and ventilators. ”
When this COVID crisis in India was emerging, He told them at the White House that we need to improve and keep the pressure on the Biden administration to recognize that it is a humanitarian crisis in which COVID is not contained.
“No individual country can overcome COVID. So we’re just saying to Biden, thank you for what you did, but you need to do more. ”
He mentioned that he has seen the pictures of some of the big American military transport planes landing in India in some early deliveries, but this is going to require a global effort. “India is applying 2.1 million vaccines a day. That’s great. They are making progress, but vaccines alone are not going to solve this problem. Test equipment, oxygen, ventilators are of vital importance ”.
And he remarked that an international effort will be required from both governments and the private sector, in a more aggressive way than we have. seen to date.
Dr. Rosemarie De Souza from the Intensive Care Unit of the Nair General Hospital of Mumbai in India said that in a study of patients admitted between March and May, the 20 .6% died, more than 11% required oxygen and 7% were discharged.
“In our study, the mortality rate increased significantly in patients who had chronic diseases, be it kidney and diabetes. Although diabetes and obesity were not shown to be a significant factor in the increase in cases. ”
In the beginning, he said that medical treatment they used with the patients was hydroxychloroquine because it was what was recommended and they did not have much information about the disease. “What I see has helped patients in India is oxygen and ventilator equipment, but now we don’t have enough in hospitals.”
He also emphasized that they have seen that there has been no patient vaccinated with the two doses, who has died.
“ At first, people were reluctant to get vaccinated and now they are desperate to get it ”.
Second wave of coronavirus is more infectious due to the mutation of the virus, so vaccination definitely helps to reduce mortality.
What Do you see in the future given the analysis done?
“What I see is that the mortality rate among young patients is very high because already They come very sick and with breathing problems, and the only treatment we can give them in that state is ventilators. What I have noticed is that patients who have already been vaccinated with both doses do not die. ”
But is the vaccine effective against new mutations of the COVID – 20 in India ?
“Many of the patients who have been admitted to hospitals and who have been vaccinated are doing well and surviving. That is why we must continue to use masks and social distance. ”
Dr. Chris de Souza, head and neck surgeon at Mumbai Tata Memorial Hospital, said that before this wave of COVID – 19 there were no policies on the pandemic for patients and medical personnel in hospitals.
“Now we make sure that all patients, their families and hospital staff wear masks all the time and wash their hands frequently.”
Sandy Roy, a journalist for KALW’S Dispatches in Kolkata, said that in recent 28 days, 11 Reporters have died of COVID – 19 because they were reporting every day from crematoria and hospitals.
“ It is very strange what we are experiencing. I don’t think this kind of madness has ever been experienced in India, a country that always has many problems, epidemics and quite a few stressful situations. It’s wonderful that in this time of need, people are reacting and helping India ”.
How does this look in the future?
“Every time you go out, you feel like you can bring the coronavirus home. Right now everyone is looking forward to the next two weeks as they are going to be very critical. The big problem is that while the pandemic spread like wildfire in the country, vaccination was slow. This is a huge country with a large population, so vaccination represents a massive challenge. ”
In your case, you observed that you were canceled the appointment for your second dose of the vaccine; and when he wanted to get another one, there was no space available in the whole month of May because there are no vaccines in the hospitals.
that himself has himself been vaccinated and that’s not even the 10% of the population, while the country is battling for vaccines, the number of cases has increased. ”