American COVID-19 Shipment With Emergency Supplies Arrives In India

The first COVID-19 shipment with supplies of oxygen and other critical care items from the United States has arrived in India on the morning of Friday, April 30.

The medical supplies include oxygen generation units, oxygen concentrators, Rapid Diagnostic Tests, PPE, Vaccine-Manufacturing Supplies, therapeutics and Public Health Assistance.

The US Embassy in New Delhi said that the first of several emergency COVID-19 relief shipments have arrived in India from the United States, and more such flights are expected in the next week. The embassy also said that the United States stands with India as we fight the pandemic together and build on over 70 years of cooperation.

The active caseload of the coronavirus disease has crossed the mark of three million on Thursday, April 29 as the daily new cases have been above 300,000 every day.

India is the second worst COVID affected country globally in terms of the total positive cases after the US and the fourth affected country in terms of total fatalities, according to the World Health Organisation COVID-19 dashboard.

Many other countries have contributed critical equipment and medicines to India to tackle the ongoing pandemic and its crisis in the country. Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs said that a shipment from Ireland carrying 700 oxygen concentrator units, and 365 ventilators have reached India. Many other countries like Australia, Singapore, France, Germany, Canada and Norway have assured India of their assistance to fight against the disease.

The third phase of the COVID-19 vaccination drive will start from May 1 and all adults of the country are eligible for the shot. According to the Union Ministry's latest update, more than 152 million doses of the vaccine have been administered until 8 pm on Thursday, April 29.