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.
NEW DELHI: With coronavirus cases still 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.
Many medical experts, opposition leaders and some of the Supreme Court judges have suggested the lockdown seems to be the only option with the virus raging in cities and towns, where hospitals are forced to turn patients away while relatives scramble to find oxygen. Crematoriums and burial grounds are struggling to handle the dead.
On Friday, India recorded a new record of 414,188 confirmed cases in the past 24 hours. Its tally has risen to more than 21.4 million since the pandemic began with faint hopes of the curve going down quickly. The Health Ministry also reported 3,915 additional deaths, bringing the total to 234,083. Experts believe both figures are an undercount.
Indian Business Owners Calling for Country Lockdown Despite Impact to Them
On 5/7/21 at 8:51 AM EDT
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to overwhelm India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is facing growing pressure to enact a nationwide lockdown, despite the economic impact on businesses.
The situation is so intense that those calling for a strict lockdown are the merchants who know their businesses will be affected the most. Only if our health is good, will we be able to earn. The lockdown will help everyone, and coronavirus spread will also come down, said Aruna Ramjee, a florist, told the Associated Press.
Over the past month, nearly a dozen of India s 28 federal states have announced some restrictions, including stay-at-home orders, grounded flights and a suspension of passenger service on the nation s extensive rail system.
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India posted another record in daily Covid-19 infections on Friday, adding to pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to impose a nationwide lockdown amid a debate whether restrictions imposed by individual states are enough.
Many medical experts, opposition leaders and some Supreme Court judges
suggested
lockdown seems to be the only option with the virus raging in cities and towns. Hospitals are forced to turn patients away for lack of space and crematoriums and burial grounds are struggling to handle the dead.
On Friday, India reported a new record of 414,188 confirmed cases in the previous 24 hours. Its tally has risen to more than 21.4 million since the pandemic began with faint hopes of the curve going down quickly. The Health Ministry
Pressure rises for India lockdown as coronavirus surge breaks record again
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 pummelled 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.
Indian television stations broadcast images of patients lying on stretchers outside hospitals waiting to be admitted, with hospital beds and critical oxygen in short supply. People infected with COVID-19 in villages are being treated in makeshift outdoor clinics, with IV drips hanging from trees.