U.S. ‘determined’ to help India: Biden
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U.S. President Joe Biden on Sunday said the United States stands ready to help India deal with a massive spike in coronavirus cases, noting that India helped Americans at the start of the health crisis.
On Twitter, Biden said, quote: "Just as India sent assistance to the United States as our hospitals were strained early in the pandemic, we are determined to help India in its time of need."
Earlier on Sunday, the White House said the U.S. will immediately provide raw materials to help India manufacture the Covishield vaccine, along with medical equipment and protective gear to help India respond to what has been billed a 'COVID tsunami'.
Washington said it would also send therapeutics, rapid diagnostic test kits and ventilators.
The U.S. was under mounting pressure to help India, where oxygen plants are being pushed to the brink.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged all citizens to be vaccinated and exercise caution, as the country set a global record for new COVID-19 infections in a single day.
U.S. officials are also actively considering sending India its unused doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine that have not yet been approved for use domestically, top U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci told ABC on Sunday.
In India - time is of the essence -- with a rate of one COVID-19 death in just under every four minutes in Delhi alone, as its underfunded healthcare system buckles.
