The COVID-19 death toll in India has surpassed 200,000 as the countryexperiences a public health crisisdue to recent surges in new cases.
As of Wednesday morning, India’sMinistry of Health reports201,187 deaths in the country. Additionally, theAssociated Pressreported that India — which is the second-most populated country in the world — continues to set daily records of new COVID infections, most recently with 362,757 new cases in the past 24 hours.
Globally, 3,129,700 deaths have been recorded, according to theTimes.
Citizens in India are holding the government accountable for reopening the country prematurely, following a dramatic decline in case numbers during the winter. Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared “victory” over COVID in January. The government has since been accused of releasing false numbers and information about the growing death rate.
Experts say the actual number of COVID casescould be 30 times higherthan what’s been reported, according to CNN.
Health workers and relatives wearing personal protection equipment move the body of a COVID-19 fatality at a mortuary in New Delhi, India, on April 21, 2021.Amarjeet Kumar Singh/Anadolu Agency via Getty
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Hospitals, graveyards and crematoriums have become overwhelmed with new cases and deaths in heavily populated areas of India. As life-saving oxygen is in short supply, some patients have died in the streets while searching for a hospital. Meanwhile, crematoriums have had toincrease their funeral pyres. In the city of Bhopal, some have had to increase their capacity from 12 pyres to 50, according tothe Washington Post.
President Joe Biden announced Sunday that the U.S. will join several European countries in sending aid to India. The U.S. will provide financial assistance and raw materials for vaccines.
“Just as India sent assistance to the United States as our hospitals were strained early in the pandemic, we are determined to help India in its time of need,” Bidenwrote Sundayon Twitter.
As information about thecoronavirus pandemicrapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from theCDC,WHOandlocal public health departments.PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMeto raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, clickhere.
source: people.com
