As India grapples with a soaring number of COVID-19 cases, questions about the severity of the outbreak should be accompanied by a recognition of the international community’s responsibility in helping other countries manage the crisis that threatens the well-being of the human population as a whole. If not for altruistic reasons, the situation in India should be treated with urgency at least out of self-concern over the threat posed by genetic mutation and large-scale transmission.
India’s situation is currently second in severity only to that of the United States. With nearly 400,000 new cases reported on April 28, the spread of the virus is growing at an alarming rate and will quickly outpace the US if not controlled. The Indian healthcare system is also under severe strain, seeing major shortages in hospital bed space and oxygen supplies, the latter of which being especially important in combating the effects of this respiratory virus. As a result, patients with severe cases are unable to be seen or are faced with improvised care conditions. In the most stressed areas, patients are being left outside of clinics, in ambulances, or in their homes, and many have died there without full treatment and oxygen access in a hospital.
COVID-19-related deaths in India, which are currently at about half of the deaths in the U.S., are likely being underreported due to the limited capacity of hospitals and other institutions that contribute to the official tally. In addition, reports of mass cremations and burials suggest that the wave of deaths is so overwhelming that they cannot be dealt with in a proper manner.
Indian authorities have noted the significant presence of a COVID-19 variant, B.1.617, which they blame for the current outbreak. Though the exact underlying factors in this wave are unclear as of now, the spread of the variant, which is now the dominant strain in the state of Maharashtra, could jeopardize inoculation efforts and safety measures both in and beyond the country.
Throughout the region, neighboring countries are reporting their own spikes in cases, particularly involving the B.1.617 variant. In countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal, authorities are on high alert, but India’s crisis should be a concern for the greater international community as well.
Failure to contain the virus throughout the world, especially in populous countries ripe for large-scale transmission, only threatens to extend the pandemic and augment the tally of deaths. Previous waves of the virus have shown that border shut-downs and national isolation are not enough to stop the spread of COVID-19, and concerns over restricted economic activity may hamper further lockdown measures, especially in the United States. A year on in the pandemic, our governments now have the power of hindsight in evaluating their courses of action, and one should hope that they learn from the errors of last year.
If border controls and isolationism only buy time, then how does the international community successfully manage the virus? This late in the game, it is nigh-impossible to orchestrate a fast and effective response to quickly stamp out the virus, but the answer lies in engagement with other countries and the sharing of resources where necessary. Immediate elimination of the virus is not possible; We must instead adapt to the changing situation and chart long-term solutions.
For the United States, the uncomfortable truth in the matter was finally acknowledged: India needs aid, and intentionally withholding it is not only bad for public relations but also for domestic pandemic responses.
After criticism for its efforts towards curbing the export of PPE and vaccine production equipment, the Biden administration switched stances and announced American aid to India in the form of COVID-19 tests, oxygen support units, and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine materials. The US currently does not administer the AstraZeneca vaccine, instead administering vaccines produced by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and J&J.
These relief efforts, however wonderful they may be, only came after heavy pressure on the Biden administration. The lobbying process and the fact that sending aid was not an intuitive reaction begs the question of whether the norm is to prioritize domestic interests at all costs, even in the face of a humanitarian crisis. The U.S. has already recently encountered the issue with this view: Failure to stem crises elsewhere leads to an international spillover. In this case especially, the accumulation of natural mutations in COVID-19 RNA means that the more opportunities the virus has to spread, the more chances it has to develop evasions against protective measures. Given India’s large population and heavy density, the spread of COVID-19 offers plenty of opportunities to further mutate, and if the international community does not coordinate to slow the spread, the burden of the virus will only worsen, both in India and elsewhere.
Yes, the world should be paying attention to India, but it should also be pitching in with relief efforts, too, as the current system puts the burden of crisis response on countries that are ill-equipped compared to nations that can afford to aggressively hoard resources and isolate. Even with what the U.S. has done, there are more actions to be taken to lessen the severity of India’s COVID-19 outbreak and its effects on the rest of the world.
If you have the resources, seek out opportunities to contribute to relief efforts towards India’s strained healthcare system. In addition to large charities and relief organizations, local mutual aid networks are also taking money and donations, but no matter where you choose to give, ensure that the money and equipment you donate go fully to the cause.
(This article was published on 29 April. The statistics referenced may now have more recent updates, and we encourage you to follow their developments.)