The Tribune

By TANYA SMITH-CARTWRIGHT

tsmith-cartwright@tribunemedia.net

WITH India confirming more than 300,000 cases of COVID-19 in a 24-hour period, the Indian community here in The Bahamas says it has been affected by the loss of loved ones in that country.

For four straight days, India has set a global daily record of new coronavirus infections, stoked by a new variant of the virus that emerged in that country. Initially, India felt it was winning the battle of COVID-19 and gifted many countries with Indian-manufactured COVID-19 vaccines. Now, with the variant-induced surge, that victorious feeling has diminished.

India is in crisis with COVID-19 ravaging its health resources. Oxygen is in short supply with citizens having to carry sick relatives from hospital to hospital in search of treatment, according to international reports. Sadly, too often their search for healthcare ends in mourning with the death toll at more than 190,000 and reports of street side cremations, according to international news agencies.

Members of the Indian Association of The Bahamas (IAB) issued a short statement to The Tribune yesterday on the ordeal.

“While there is an exponential rise in COVID-19 cases in India, the country has the resolve, understanding at international levels and the infrastructure to tide over the crisis.

“Looking at the numbers in perspective, the death rate is one percent and the recovery rate of a population of approximately 1.3 billion is 99 percent.

“The Indian Association of The Bahamas has been affected by the loss of their loved ones back home in India. IAB tries to reach out whenever there is a need.”

The Bahamas received its first vaccines from India on March 10 when some 20,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine were received into The Bahamas by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and Minister of Health Renward Wells.

To date, India has confirmed more than 17 million cases of the COVID-19.

According to the BBC, the United Kingdom has begun sending ventilators and oxygen concentrator devices to India while EU members are also expected to soon send aid.

The US has also offered assistance and will lift a ban on sending raw materials abroad, enabling India to make more of the AstraZeneca vaccine, according to reports.