Pressure rises for India lockdown; COVID surge breaks record again
India: Cremations continue non-stop at Ganges River By Associated Press | May 7, 2021 at 11:06 AM EDT - Updated May 7 at 11:06 AM
NEW DELHI (AP) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi faced growing pressure Friday to impose a strict nationwide lockdown, despite the economic pain it will exact, as a startling surge in coronavirus cases that has pummeled the country’s health system shows no signs of abating.
Many medical experts, opposition leaders and even Supreme Court judges are calling for national restrictions, arguing that a patchwork of state rules is insufficient to quell the rise in infections.
May 7, 2021
Workers load oxygen cylinders onto a hand cart to be carried inside the COVID-19 wards at a government run hospital today in Jammu, India. With coronavirus cases surging to record levels, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is facing growing pressure to impose a harsh nationwide lockdown amid a debate whether restrictions imposed by individual states are enough. (AP Photo/Channi Anand)
NEW DELHI (AP) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi faced growing pressure today to impose a strict nationwide lockdown, despite the economic pain it will exact, as a startling surge in coronavirus cases that has pummeled the country’s health system shows no signs of abating.
WASHINGTON â G. Balachandran turned 80 this spring â a milestone of a birthday in India, where he lives. If not for the coronavirus pandemic, he would have been surrounded by family members who gathered to celebrate with him.
But with the virus ravaging his homeland, Balachandran had to settle for congratulatory phone calls. Including one from his rather famous niece: Vice President Kamala Harris.
âUnfortunately, because of the COVID, I cannot have such an elaborate function,â the retired academic said in a Zoom interview May 6 from his home in New Delhi.
Harrisâ uncle says he spoke with the vice president and her husband, Doug Emhoff, for quite a while. To close out the conversation, Harris assured him sheâd take care of his daughter â her cousin â who lives in Washington.
The Vice President has not visited the southern border; The Five react
G. Balachandran turned 80 this spring a milestone of a birthday in India, where he lives. If not for the coronavirus pandemic, he would have been surrounded by family members who gathered to celebrate with him.
But with the virus ravaging his homeland, Balachandran had to settle for congratulatory phone calls. Including one from his rather famous niece: Vice President Kamala Harris.
The retired academic said he cannot have such an elaborate function during a Zoom interview Thursday from his home in New Delhi. FILE - In this Jan. 8, 2004, file photo, San Francisco s new district attorney, Kamala Harris, right, receives the oath of office from California Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald M. George, left, during inauguration ceremonies Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004, in San Francisco, as Harris mother, Dr. Shyamala Gopalan, holds a copy of The Bill of Rights. (AP Photo/George Nikitin, File)