Covid-19: India Sets Global Record For New Cases Amid Oxygen Shortage
India has reported 314,835 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours – the highest one day tally recorded anywhere in the world.
Deaths rose by 2,104 in the same time period, India’s worst daily toll.
It brings the country’s total confirmed cases close to 16 million, second only to the US’s 31.9 million.
India is in the grip of a vicious second wave and an acute oxygen shortage is raising more fears about its overwhelmed health care system.
It has led Delhi’s highest court to publicly criticised the central government for its handling of the oxygen crisis in the city.
“This is ridiculous. We want to know what the centre is doing with regard to oxygen supply across India,” the judges said while reading out the verdict in a petition by the owner of six private hospitals.
It ordered the government to ensure safe passage of oxygen supplies from factories to hospitals across India.
A number of people across the country have died while waiting for oxygen, although it is not possible to know how many. Indian social media has also been filled with appeals for oxygen.