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Indian Doc: Second Covid Wave Hit like A Nuclear Bomb
Frontline doctors learning vaccines, handwashing, masks save lives
Doctors and journalists gave a view from the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic in India on Wednesday. The presentation was part of an online briefing presented by Ethnic Media Services.
India registered about 400,000 new infections over the last 24 hours. India is currently in its second wave of COVID-19. Dr. Jalil Parkar, senior pulmonary consultant, Lilavati Hospital, described the second wave as being like “a nuclear bomb.” According to Parkar, after surviving the first wave, Indians were eager to go outside and restart their economy. Also, frontline workers were exhausted from the flood of patients from the first wave.
Then the second wave hit. The situation was exacerbated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who allowed religious festivals to go on and also held mass rallies in stadiums, just like ex-president Donald Trump. However, several critics say India failed to invest in its medical system to prepare for a health crisis. According to Dr. Rosemarie De Souza, general physician, Intensive Care Unit at Nair Hospital in Mumbai, India spends about 1 percent of its GDP on health.
