As a nation counts — and also doesn’t count — its dead, as the wave enters villages, The Sunday Express profiles lives lost for the lack of oxygen and listens to what their survivors have to say.
AC maintenance contractor Gurdeep Singh, 37, died on April 27 at New Medical College Hospital, Kota. He leaves behind his wife and a child who turns 2 on May 24.
#Covid19 “I am a nurse, but for my husband, I had to arrange remdesivir through a politician. He kept saying he didn’t want to die… ,”says his wife Maninder Kaur.
#Covid19 Businesswoman Nisha Goel, 59, died on April 24 at Jaipur Golden Hospital, Delhi. She leaves behind Daughter Sonali Goel (36) and son Dhruv Goel (32). … She was so active… was 59 but looked 40,” says Sonali.
#Covid19 Jayshankar M, a 37-year-old engineer, died on May 2 at Chamarajanagar district hospital. He leaves behind: Wife and two daughters. “He was the only earning member of our family. Government should give me a job for me to sustain my family,” says wife Siddarajamma.
#Covid19 School principal Seema Avasthi, 56, died on April 24 at Jaipur Golden Hospital, Delhi
She leaves behind: Two daughters. “On April 23, I met her at 4.30 pm and she said she was feeling better... Next morning, she was no more,” says daughter Navya.
#Covid19 Auto driver Charanjit Gera, 49, died on April 24 at Jaipur Golden, Delhi
He leaves behind: Two sons. “Nobody at the hospital told us they were short of oxygen. This is criminal… At the same time, my mother, who could not get an ICU bed died too,” says son Gaurav.
#Covid19 Businessman Inder Mohan Singh, 54, died on April 24 at Jaipur Golden Hospital, Delhi
He leaves behind: Wife and two sons. “I met him on April 23...he ate a little custard and chatted with my son on my phone. When I left the hospital, he was all fine,” says his son.
Delphin Massey, 60,
Homemaker died on April 24 at Jaipur Golden Hospital, Delhi
She leaves behind: Two sons. “We managed a video call with her on April 22. It was her birthday. She spoke through gestures through her oxygen mask. A day later, she was gone,” says son Erick.
Dinesh Kataryia, 41, died on April 24 at Jaipur Golden Hospital, Delhi.
He leaves behind: Wife and daughter: The hospital is responsible for his death. They should have informed us about the oxygen crisis,” says wife Shalu.
In fact, much before the festive season in India, between September and October, we had ensured that banks, NBFCs and others reached out with liquidity, said Sitharaman on @ftlive
@ftlive The Indian economy has been slowing, now at 5-6% range, and will need quite a bit of policy-change reforms, in a difficult world environment, to be successful in the decade ahead,” said Martin Wolf, Chief Economics Commentator, Financial Times on @ftlive
@ftlive The panelists discussed the role of the state and investment climate for businesses, what an Atmanirbhar Bharat meant, what factors contributed to the slowing down of the economy, where the fault lines are and how the second wave will impact growth.
All indications from the coronavirus numbers in India in the last two weeks suggest that the second wave of infections may already have reached a peak, or will peak in the next few days, but end may still be far away. #ExpressExplained : bit.ly/3hunKvx
After reaching a high of 4.14 lakh last Thursday, the daily cases has dropped significantly in the last 1 week. This is not happening for the first time. After crossing 4 lakh mark for the first time on April 30, the case count had gone down for a few days, before jumping again.
#Maharashtra, which at one point was contributing more than 60% of daily cases, certainly seems to be in a declining phase now. The decline in Maharashtra is likely to have the biggest impact on the national curve. #COVID19
While researchers have been studying the benefits of #greentea, Dr Vikas Maurya, director pulmonology, Fortis Hospital, New Delhi said,"Please don’t be under the misconception that if you have tea you are in any way safeguarded or protected against Covid; there is no guarantee.”
The only way to prevent contracting #COVID19 is by taking adequate precautions like wearing masks, sanitising hands and maintaining social distance, and ensuring that you get vaccinated as soon as possible, the doctor said indianexpress.com/article/lifest…
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests a wait for 90 days from the day one tests positive for #COVID19 if he/she has not received the vaccine.
Leading vaccine scientist Dr #GagandeepKang said data from the UK shows there is 80% protection following a natural infection with the #SARSCoV2 virus. It is fine to even wait up to six months, she said.
The second dose can be given eight weeks after the person tests positive for #COVID19 infection, according to Dr V Ravi, nodal officer for genetic confirmation of #SARSCoV2, Karnataka. The body starts producing antibodies after the infection and it is akin to getting a #vaccine.
For the first time since the Modi Government came to power in 2014, senior BJP and RSS ministers are on the defensive, unsure of how or what to communicate to the people as the #COVIDSecondWave rages across the country.
The common refrain is that it was “sudden” and “unexpected,” even when told that the uptick began in Mumbai mid-February and all warning signs — from need of oxygen to the possible impact of the variant — came early. The Government had time to prepare. (2/10)
Asked about the conspicuous silence at the top as compared to daily and regular press briefings by some Chief Ministers, a Union Minister said: “I am with you on the need for a voice of reassurance (from the government). The entire situation is challenging”. (3/10)
#COVIDSecondWave | Kejriwal had earlier announced that he was not in favour of a lockdown to restrict the #COVID19 surge in Delhi, but would have no other option if hospitals started running out of beds. bit.ly/32fGoi2
#COVIDSecondWave | The Gujarat High Court told the state government that it was not utilising its resources properly, and asked it to come out with an “open statement” on the “myths of remdesivir” in the treatment of #COVID19. bit.ly/3djWH3I