India is currently in the midst of a deadly surge of COVID-19 infections that has left the country devastated as the death toll mounts and hospitals are beyond capacity. Daily cases have crossed the record-breaking threshold of 350,000 a day. India has witnessed more than 219,000 deaths by the beginning of May, according to The New York Times, though experts are saying that the actual figures are much higher.
The country is experiencing major shortages of medical supplies like lifesaving oxygen ventilators and Indian healthcare providers are struggling to cope with the massive influx of new COVID-19 patients. In addition, misinformation is rampant in the subcontinent, as fake news stories, conspiracy theories, and unsubstantiated information continues to circulate, causing unnecessary anxiety and complicating the country’s fight against the pandemic.