Modi led Indian govt slammed for ignoring warnings of COVID lethal wave

Modi led Indian govt slammed for ignoring warnings of COVID lethal wave.

The government of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi has come under severe criticism.

Critics are slamming Modi govt for ignoring the lethality of the ongoing wave of COVID-19.

Modi led Indian govt slammed for ignoring warnings of COVID lethal wave

That has led to alarming death rate in India.

The medical journal The Lancet has severely criticised the Narendra Modi government for its handling of the COVID-19 crisis in India.

It further stated that it has given the impression of being more occupied with “removing criticism on Twitter than trying to control the pandemic”.

According to the editorial of the world’s oldest and best-known general medical journals: “India’s top government officials prematurely declared victory over the pandemic.}

It highlighted health minister Harsh Vardhan’s comment that ‘India is in the endgame’ that led to “complacency and insufficient preparation.

Furthermore, it stated that the modelling suggested falsely that India had reached herd immunity.

That encouraged complacency and insufficient preparation.

Mishandling the pandemic

Moreover, it cited a survey by the Indian Council of Medical Research in January. That suggested that only 21% of the population had antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.

The editorial comes at a time when many Indians are struggling to find hospital beds and oxygen cylinders for COVID-19 patients who require critical care.

On Saturday, India reported its highest death toll yet due to COVID-19.

It recorded 4,187 fatalities.

The country also reported 401,078 new infection, the third consecutive day with more than 0.4 million new cases.

Meanwhile, the journal also criticised the government’s decision – despite warnings – to allow religious and political congregations.

Flawed strategy

The editorial underlined these events conspicuous for their lack of COVID-19 mitigation measures.

According to it, the message that COVID-19 essentially over also slowed the start of India’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

India has vaccinated less than 2% of the population.

At the federal level, India’s vaccination plan soon fell apart.

The government abruptly shifted course without discussing the change in policy with states.

Moreover, it expanded vaccination to everyone older than 18 years, draining supplies, and creating mass confusion.

The Lancet further noted a market for vaccine doses in which states and hospital systems competed.

GTV