COVID-19 In India Is Dangerous, United States Of America Sends $ 1.4 Billion In Aid

JAKARTA - India has again set a world daily record for four consecutive days of cases of COVID-19 infection. Last Sunday, April 25, India recorded 349,691 new cases of infection.

Meanwhile, reports of daily mortality due to COVID-19 also experienced a spike, in which 2,767 people died. Total India recorded COVID-19 cases reaching 16.96 million cases, with the death toll reaching 192,311.

Responding to the conditions in India, the United States sent assistance. One of the most needed assistance is a ventilator, oxygen concentrator, and oxygen supply.

The United States will immediately send raw materials for the COVID-19 vaccine, medical equipment, and protective gear to help India respond to a large spike in coronavirus infections, President Joe Biden said on Sunday.

"Just as India sent aid to the United States because our hospitals were strained at the start of the pandemic, we are determined to help India in times of need," President Biden said on Twitter.

The Indian government is known to have deployed military planes and trains to get much-needed oxygen to Delhi from other parts of the country and foreign countries.

"We are in active conversation at a high level and plan to immediately deploy additional support to the Government of India and Indian health workers as they combat this latest severe outbreak. We will have more to share soon," the White House Spokesman said in a statement.

The United States is under increasing pressure to do more to help India, the world's largest democracy and a strategic ally in President Joe Biden's bid to confront competition from China.

The United States Chamber of Commerce asked Friday for President Joe Biden's administration to release millions of doses of AstraZeneca vaccine stored for shipment to India, Brazil, and other hard-hit countries.

National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne said the United States was working around the clock to mobilize available resources and supplies to help India produce the Covishield vaccine and care for millions of sick and dying Indians. In addition, he said the United States would also send therapeutic devices, rapid diagnostic test kits, and ventilators.

Meanwhile, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said last Friday that US and Indian officials were working to find ways to help overcome the crisis, but did not provide a timetable for such support.

He said the United States had provided India with around US$ 1.4 billion in health assistance, emergency relief supplies, COVID-19 pandemic training for Indian state and local health officials and ventilators.