Reuters Exclusive | Scientists say Centre ignored warnings amid coronavirus surge
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Updated:
May 01, 2021 17:49 IST
The warning about the new variant in early March was issued by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genetics Consortium, or INSACOG
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Mass cremation of people who died of COVID-19 coronavirus at a cremation ground at Ghazipur, in New Delhi on April 30, 2021.
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The warning about the new variant in early March was issued by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genetics Consortium, or INSACOG
A forum of scientific advisers set up by the Union government warned officials in early March of a new and more contagious variant of the coronavirus taking hold in the country, five scientists who are part of the forum told
The Straits Times
Scientists say India government ignored warnings amid coronavirus surge
India is struggling to contain a second wave of infections much more severe than its first last year.PHOTO: REUTERS
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Modi, his top lieutenants, other politicians, opposition figures, held election rallies throughout March and April
Reuters
May 01, 2021
A general view of the mass cremation of those who died from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a crematorium in New Delhi, India April 26, 2021. REUTERS
A forum of scientific advisers set up by the government warned Indian officials in early March of a new and more contagious variant of the coronavirus taking hold in the country, five scientists who are part of the forum told Reuters.
Despite the warning, four of the scientists said the federal government did not seek to impose major restrictions to stop the spread of the virus. Millions of largely unmasked people attended religious festivals and political rallies that were held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and opposition politicians.
By Devjyot Ghoshal and Krishna N. Das
NEW DELHI, May 1 (Reuters) - A forum of scientific advisers set up by the government warned Indian officials in early March of a new and more contagious variant of the coronavirus taking hold in the country, five scientists who are part of the forum told Reuters.
Despite the warning, four of the scientists said the federal government did not seek to impose major restrictions to stop the spread of the virus. Millions of largely unmasked people attended religious festivals and political rallies that were held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and opposition politicians.
The world’s second-most populous country is now struggling to contain a second wave of infections much more severe than its first last year, which some scientists say is being accelerated by the new variant and another variant first detected in Britain.
05:03
The Hindu priest struggling to cremate India’s Covid dead – video
India reported another world record 401,993 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, while deaths from Covid-19 jumped by 3,523 over the past 24 hours. Experts believe the real figures are far higher.
Compounding the misery, a fire broke out in a Covid-19 hospital ward in western India early Saturday, killing 18 patients. The fire, which broke out at the Welfare Hospital in Bharuch, a town in Gujarat state, was extinguished within an hour, police said. The cause was being investigated.