The Intelligence from The Economist Growth negligence: India’s covid-19 failings
Apr 22, 2021
Max Rodenbeck, South Asia bureau chief for The Economist, sheds light on India's staggering COVID-19 crisis. He discusses the overwhelmed healthcare system and the danger of mass gatherings as new case numbers soar. Rodenbeck reveals alarming undercounts of cases and deaths, alongside criticizing the government’s ineffective response. The episode also touches on political unrest in Chad following the assassination of President Idris Déby, highlighting the potential for regional instability as power dynamics shift.
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India's COVID Crisis
- India's COVID-19 cases surged dramatically, becoming the second worst-hit country.
- The undercounting of cases and deaths is estimated to be significant, especially outside major cities.
Undercounting in India
- India's official COVID-19 figures likely underrepresent the true scale by 10-30 times due to limited testing.
- Anecdotal evidence, such as increased burial rates, supports this undercounting.
Dire Scenes in Delhi
- Hospitals in Delhi face overwhelming strain with a 30% positivity rate among those tested.
- The current situation mirrors the feared pandemic scenarios from last year.