大象传媒

Seven months ago, people in India experienced the trauma of the Delta variant of coronavirus, when people were turned away from packed hospitals, oxygen ran out in many places and mass cremations were held. Now the country is experiencing a third wave - this time fuelled by the Omicron variant. Reported cases have surged in the past week, with the biggest rise in the north-western state of Maharashtra, where Mumbai is located.

大象传媒 correspondent Yogita Limaye reports from Mumbai and explains more about the surge in cases. She says that hospitals are beginning to see an increase in admissions, and although these are not proportionate to the numbers of new cases, "even if a smaller number of people need hospital care, India's health care system could get overwhelmed really quickly". She goes on to say that the government has been advised to accelerate the vaccination programme, especially for frontline health workers and the elderly and vulnerable.

"The wave is spreading - this could get quite bad very quickly."

Photo: People on Juhu Beach, Mumbai, on New Year's Eve, December 2021 Credit: Reuters

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