NEW DELHI — As a new wave of coronavirus infections grips the densely populated area of South Asia, home to a quarter of the world’s population, Bangladesh on Saturday introduced a second lockdown and officers in Mumbai, India’s largest metropolis, mentioned they have been on the verge of declaring one.
The authorities in Bangladesh mentioned the nation of 165 million folks would go into a weeklong lockdown starting on Monday to curb the unfold of the virus. The nation shut down for 2 months beginning in March final 12 months.
Bangladesh on Friday registered practically 7,000 cases in 24 hours, the best for the reason that unfold of the virus within the nation final 12 months. The day by day loss of life toll has been round 50 for the previous week, however what has notably alarmed officers is the excessive check positivity charge, with 24 % of virus assessments carried out coming again constructive.
Farhad Hossain, Bangladesh’s state minister for public administration, instructed the native information media that “industries and factories will remain open,” however would function in shifts and comply with strict well being protocols. The exceptions appeared to be geared toward decreasing the financial impression and avoiding the kind of exodus of laborers that led to a humanitarian disaster in India final 12 months.
Infections have additionally been rising sharply in Pakistan, which has struggled to supply vaccines for its inhabitants, and in India, the place a vaccination drive is only now picking up pace — regardless of the nation being dwelling to one of the world’s largest suppliers of vaccines.
Just a few weeks in the past, India was a main exporter of the AstraZeneca vaccine, and it was utilizing that to exert influence in South Asia and around the world. But as infections soared, the nation determined to cut back on exports and is now holding again practically all of the two.four million doses that the Serum Institute of India, the private company that is one of the world’s largest producers of the AstraZeneca vaccine, makes every day.
India on Saturday recorded its largest single-day spike in cases since September, with authorities officers reporting practically 90,000 cases and 714 deaths over the previous 24 hours. Single-day figures generally include anomalies, however the country’s seven-day average of new cases, a extra dependable gauge, has been rising sharply since early March.
Nearly half of deaths and new infections in latest weeks have been traced to the state of Maharashtra, dwelling to Mumbai, the nation’s monetary hub.
Uddhav Thackeray, the state’s chief minister, warned in a televised handle on Friday that a lockdown was imminent if folks continued with their relaxed perspective. Even when individuals are vaccinated, he famous, safety from an infection will not be absolute.
“The vaccine is like an umbrella in the rain,” Mr. Thackeray mentioned. “But what we are facing right now is a storm.”
As cases rise, legislation enforcement officers throughout India are adopting stringent measures, together with fining violators who don’t put on masks. India has additionally expanded its vaccination drive, now administering over three million jabs a day.
But the federal government’s messaging is at instances contradictory, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and many senior officers proceed to maintain large rallies in a number of states the place native elections are underway.
The authorities has additionally allowed a huge monthlong Hindu festival to go forward on the banks of Ganges River. One million to 5 million individuals are anticipated to take part within the festivities within the metropolis of Haridwar every day, officers say.
