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Relatives of corona patients organize oxygen cylinders in Allahabad
Photo: Prabhat Kumar Verma / imago images / ZUMA Wire
With 352,991 new corona infections, India reports a global high for the fifth day in a row - which probably only represents a fraction of the actual infections.
In addition, the number of reported deaths related to the virus rose within 24 hours from 2,812 to a total of 195,123 - more than ever before in the South Asian country, as the Ministry of Health in New Delhi announced.
Now, in the face of the dramatic increase in the number of infections, several countries have offered the delivery of medical goods - including India's rivals Pakistan and China.
Germany also wants to put together a corona aid package.
As a "gesture of solidarity" with the Indian population, they wanted to provide ventilators, digital X-ray machines, protective clothing and other equipment, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday evening (local time).
The authorities of Pakistan and India could work out modalities for the rapid delivery of the relief supplies, it said.
One could also look for opportunities for further cooperation in order to cope with the challenges associated with the pandemic.
But Pakistan's health system is also becoming increasingly overloaded due to the increasing number of corona diseases.
On Saturday, 4682 patients were treated in intensive care units - a record number.
Relations between archenemies India and Pakistan had deteriorated massively since 2019 due to the Kashmir conflict and at times aroused fears of war.
It was only two weeks ago that it became known that the two countries had held secret talks to defuse the situation.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has now declared his solidarity with the citizens of the neighboring state on Twitter.
Like Pakistan, China announced at the weekend that it would help.
One is already in talks with India, said a spokesman for the foreign ministry in Beijing.
One million infected people in four days
With more than 17 million confirmed infections, India has the second most infections worldwide after the USA.
The second corona wave is now taking on ever greater proportions: This week, more than a million new corona infections were registered within just four days.
Many clinics in the country with around 1.35 billion inhabitants are overloaded and the oxygen for treating Covid 19 patients is becoming scarce.
Research by the New York Times over the weekend revealed that many Covid deaths are registered across the country, probably also due to political pressure. The number of deaths far exceeds the official figures and, according to an epidemiologist, is probably two - up to five times.
It is still unclear what role the Indian mutant B.1.617 plays in the most recent outbreak - it appears to be more contagious and apparently leads to more severe courses.
In addition to China and Pakistan, Germany has also offered aid. This was announced by government spokesman Steffen Seibert. Part of the shipments could be oxygen, ventilators, or medication. The Ministry of Health also emphasizes that they want to help as soon as possible. According to SPIEGEL information, the Bundeswehr air force is to transport a mobile oxygen system to India, among other things. Oxygen meters for the blood and medication are also to be supplied. The timing of the flight is currently unclear.
Meanwhile, many Indians are still trying to leave the country.
As reported by the Indian media, many people are on their way to the United Arab Emirates and the USA at the airports.
But since the Emirates are canceling the flight connections from India and Pakistan until May 4th, the flight ticket prices skyrocketed.
On Sunday they were sometimes eleven times as high as normal.
mrc / mgb / dpa / Reuters
