As COVID-19 cases rose again on Friday, the army opened its hospitals in a desperate bid to manage a major humanitarian crisis, Indian scientists appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to publicly release virus data that they claim would help them to save lives.
India now has more than 18.7 million cases recorded since the pandemic started, second only to the United States. On Friday, the health ministry announced 3,498 deaths in the previous 24 hours, taking the total number of deaths in the country to 208,330. Both numbers are believed to be undercounted by experts, although it’s unknown by how much.
Inadequate data has hampered India’s pandemic response. More than 350 scientists signed an online petition on Friday afternoon asking the government to disclose information on virus variant sequencing, monitoring, recovered patients, and vaccine responses.
According to the appeal, non-government experts and some government experts were unable to obtain “granular” data on research.
Modeling work to forecast potential spikes was being done by government-appointed experts who were working with incomplete data. Similarly, scientists had been unable to obtain information that would enable them to forecast the number of beds, oxygen, or intensive care facilities that would be required, according to the study.
Meanwhile, authorities said on Friday that many Indian states had run out of COVID-19 vaccines a day before a scheduled expansion of a national inoculation drive, as new infections reached a daily peak.
M.M. Naravane, India’s army chief, said the sick would seek treatment at army hospitals near them. According to a government release, troops were also assisting with imported oxygen tankers and vehicles that needed specialized skills.
Canada Updates
On Friday, health officials in Nova Scotia were the first in Atlantic Canada to have updated statistics, reporting 67 new cases of COVID-19.
Canada had recorded 1,211,089 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of early Friday morning, before Nova Scotia’s update, with 83,452 considered involved.
On Thursday, health officials in Quebec confirmed 1,042 new cases of COVID-19 and ten more deaths. There were 623 COVID-19 hospitalizations, and 165 people in intensive care. The news came as the province extended its vaccination eligibility, enabling people aged 50 to 59 to make appointments starting Friday.
Meanwhile, officials in Ontario anticipate that anyone over the age of 18 would be able to book a shot by May 24. Starting on Friday, the province decided to lower the age limit for mass vaccination clinics to 55 and up.
Meanwhile, officials in Ontario anticipate that anyone over the age of 18 would be able to book a shot by May 24. Starting on Friday, the province decided to lower the age limit for mass vaccination clinics to 55 and up.
Health officials in Saskatchewan confirmed 205 new cases of COVID-19 and one death.
Alberta is focusing on COVID-19 hotspots, imposing new limits such as at-home schooling for junior and senior high school students and a ban on indoor exercise and activities. There were 2,048 new cases recorded in Alberta, with three more deaths.
Saskatchewan health officials announced 205 new cases of COVID-19 and one death.
On Wednesday, health officials in British Columbia confirmed 853 new cases of COVID-19 and one additional death. There were 503 COVID-19 hospitalizations and 178 patients in intensive care.
On Thursday, Nunavut confirmed 12 new cases of COVID-19 from across the north. Health officials in Yukon and the Northwest Territories confirmed no new cases. In the Americas, a record number of COVID-19 infections prompted Costa Rica’s government to impose new restrictions on Thursday, slowing the country’s economic reopening. Costa Rica reported 2,781 new infections in the previous 24 hours, the highest daily total since the country’s first case was confirmed in March 2020, according to Health Minister Daniel Salas.
Brazilian Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga told a World Health Organization briefing on Friday that countries should share spare vaccine doses with hard-hit Brazil to aid the global battle against COVID-19, including the spread of new variants.
Italy is on track to reach its target of administering half a million COVID-19 vaccines every day in Europe. In Africa, Uganda has identified the variant linked to India, raising concerns that the East African country could see a revival of cases just as the outbreak is winding down, according to a senior health official.
The number of COVID-19 cases reported in the Middle East was approaching 2.5 million, with more than 71,300 deaths reported.
