US working with India to address COVID-19 crisis: White House
What's the story
The US is working closely with India, at both political and expert levels, to identify ways to help address the current COVID-19 crisis in the country, the White House said on Friday.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, at the daily news conference, said that the US offers its deepest sympathy to the people of India who are clearly suffering during this global pandemic.
Psaki's statements
We've provided India with emergency relief supplies: Psaki
We are discussing vaccine creation and distribution with India for the future. We've also provided for a billion dollars to COVAX, Psaki said.
"We've provided India with emergency relief supplies, medical consumables, pandemic training, ventilators, and $1.4 billion in health assistance to India to help them prepare for pandemics in the future and deal with the current one we're facing," Psaki added.
India's situation
US expresses worry over India's COVID-19 crisis
Responding to a question, Psaki said there are ongoing discussions. I don't have anything more to preview, but we are in touch with India at a range of levels about how we can help them.
At a separate news conference, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Chief Medical Advisor to President Joe Biden, said that India is going through a very terrible situation right now.
Details
Clearly, India needs vaccines: Dr. Fauci
"India had yesterday reported the largest number of cases ever in any country. Variants have arisen. We have not yet fully characterized the variants and the relationship between the ability of the vaccines to protect but we're assuming clearly, that they need vaccines," Fauci said.
The CDC is helping out by consulting with them as they have in other countries and giving technical assistance.
Further statements
US is committed to India's well being
It is a dire situation and we're trying to help in any way we can. India needs to vaccinate its people because that's the only way we're going to turn this around, Dr. Fauci said.
White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients said that the US has a longstanding commitment to India's public health and is working closely with them in the COVID-19 response.
Quote
'India's situation shows importance of bringing pandemic under control everywhere'
"India demonstrates the risk of what can happen if we don't get the pandemic under control everywhere. It's why we made the biggest investment in COVAX and we are committed to sharing vaccine supply as our confidence around our supply increases," Zients said.
COVID-19 numbers
India's COVID-19 tally has crossed 1.62 crore mark
India added over 3.32 lakh new coronavirus cases in a single day taking the country's tally to 1,62,63,695, while active cases crossed the 24 lakh mark, according to the Union Health Ministry on Friday.
The death toll increased to 1,86,920 with a record 2,263 new fatalities. The country recorded a single-day rise of 3,32,730 new cases, the data updated at 8 am showed.