Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi on Monday called on US President Joe Biden’s administration to double down shipping AstraZeneca vaccine doses, oxygen concentrators to India.

“The Biden Administration’s commitment to export raw materials needed for life-saving vaccines to India is an essential first step, but we must double down by also shipping AstraZeneca vaccine doses, oxygen concentrators, and other supplies in our stockpiles not being used,” tweeted Krishnamoorthi. Krishnamoorthi, a member of the House Select Sub-committee on the coronavirus crisis, responded to the Biden Administration’s commitment to immediately export raw materials to India for the purpose of manufacturing the Covishield vaccines, while renewing his call for the US to release millions of AstraZeneca vaccine doses in its stockpile and to immediately ship other vital materials to countries experiencing a massive spread of COVID-19.

Earlier on Saturday, Krishnamoorthi had called on the Biden administration to release doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to countries currently experiencing massive and deadly surges in the spread of COVID-19, including India.

Welcoming the administration’s commitment to export raw materials for Indian manufacturers, Krishnamoorthi cautioned, “This is no time for symbolism, half-measures, or lip service – we must act now”.

“In World War II, we shipped supplies to allies in need through the Lend-Lease Act to protect our collective security. This is no different – we and the rest of the world are fighting a war together, and our ability to defeat COVID-19 hinges on active American leadership,” added Krishnamoorthi in his tweet.

His statement was followed by an announcement from National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan at 12:40 pm EST on Sunday, in which he stated that, “The United States has identified sources of specific raw material urgently required for Indian manufacture of the Covishield vaccine that will immediately be made available for India.”

The White House, in a readout, said: “Just as India sent assistance to the United States as our hospitals were strained early in the pandemic, the United States is determined to help India in its time of need. To this end, the United States is working around the clock to deploy available resources and supplies. The United States has identified sources of specific raw material urgently required for Indian manufacture of the Covishield vaccine that will immediately be made available for India.”

The White House further said that to help treat COVID-19 patients and protect front-line health workers in India, the United States has identified supplies of therapeutics, rapid diagnostic test kits, ventilators, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that will immediately be made available for India.

India is currently experiencing a devastating second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, recording over three lakh cases for the past few days.

New Delhi: Amid an unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cases in India, Google will be providing funding of Rs 135 crore for medical supplies and to help communities in general, informed CEO Sundar Pichai on Monday.CEO of Google and Alphabet, Pichai tweeted, “Devastated to see the worsening Covid crisis in India. Google & Googlers are providing Rs 135 Crore in funding to @GiveIndia, @UNICEF for medical supplies, orgs supporting high-risk communities, and grants to help spread critical information.” India reported 3.52 lakh fresh coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours. This is the highest single-day spike registered since the onset of the pandemic.Pichai’s tweet also had a link to a blog where Google detailed ways to help in with their efforts to fight the worsening situation.On the blog, Sanjay Gupta, country head and VP, Google India wrote, “Today we’re announcing Rs 135 crore (USD 18 million) in new funding for India. This includes two grants from Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, totalling Rs 20 crore (USD 2.6 million). The first is to GiveIndia to provide cash assistance to families hit hardest by the crisis to help with their everyday expenses. The second will go to UNICEF to help get urgent medical supplies, including oxygen and testing equipment, to where it’s needed most in India. It also includes donations from our ongoing employee giving campaign — so far more than 900 Googlers have contributed Rs 3.7 Crore (USD 500,000) for organizations supporting high-risk and marginalized communities.”Moreover, Gupta also informed about Ad Grant support for public health information campaigns.”This funding also includes increased Ad Grant support for public health information campaigns. Since last year, we’ve helped MyGov and the World Health Organization reach audiences with messages focused on how to stay safe and facts about vaccines. We’re increasing our support today with an additional Rs 112 Crore (USD 15 million) in Ad Grants to local health authorities and non-profits for more language coverage options,” said Gupta.”Google is already helping India with its core information products like Search and Maps, YouTube and Ads. COVID features on Search are available in India, in English and eight Indian languages, that continue to improve localization and highlight authoritative information.”This includes information on where to get testing and vaccines. Maps and Search surface thousands of vaccine sites. Google is also collaborating closely with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, and with organizations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to support vaccine awareness initiatives,” he added.

Indian-American CEO of Microsoft Satya Nadella and his Google counterpart Sundar Pichai on Monday extended their support to India amid a record surge in coronavirus cases.

Taking to Twitter, Nadella said, “I am heartbroken by the current situation in India. I’m grateful the US government is mobilising to help. Microsoft will continue to use its voice, resources, and technology to aid relief efforts, and support the purchase of critical oxygen concentration devices.” Meanwhile, keeping the current situation in mind, Pichai tweeted, “Devastated to see the worsening Covid crisis in India. Google & Googlers are providing Rs 135 crore in funding to @GiveIndia, @UNICEF for medical supplies, orgs supporting high-risk communities, and grants to help spread critical information.”

Amidst the devastating second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, India reported 3.52 lakh fresh coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours. This is the highest single-day spike registered since the onset of the pandemic.

Pichai’s tweet also had a link to a blog where Google detailed ways to help with their efforts to fight the worsening situation.

On the blog, Sanjay Gupta, country head and VP, Google India wrote, “Today we’re announcing Rs 135 crore (USD 18 million) in new funding for India. This includes two grants from Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, totalling Rs 20 crore (USD 2.6 million). The first is to GiveIndia to provide cash assistance to families hit hardest by the crisis to help with their everyday expenses. The second will go to UNICEF to help get urgent medical supplies, including oxygen and testing equipment, to where it’s needed most in India. It also includes donations from our ongoing employee giving campaign — so far more than 900 Googlers have contributed Rs 3.7 Crore (USD 500,000) for organizations supporting high-risk and marginalized communities.”

Moreover, Gupta also informed about Ad Grant support for public health information campaigns.

“This funding also includes increased Ad Grant support for public health information campaigns. Since last year, we’ve helped MyGov and the World Health Organization reach audiences with messages focused on how to stay safe and facts about vaccines. We’re increasing our support today with an additional Rs 112 Crore (USD 15 million) in Ad Grants to local health authorities and non-profits for more language coverage options.”

“Google is already helping India with its core information products like Search and Maps, YouTube and Ads. COVID features on Search are available in India, in English and eight Indian languages, that continue to improve localization and highlight authoritative information.

“This includes information on where to get testing and vaccines. Maps and Search surface thousands of vaccine sites. Google is also collaborating closely with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, and with organizations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to support vaccine awareness initiatives,” said Gupta in the blog.

On YouTube, Google is supporting the Indian government in their vaccine communication strategy. It ran a workshop for 200+ health officials to learn how they can use YouTube to reach audiences across Indian languages with vaccine information.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday spoke to his Japanese counterpart Yoshihide Suga and discussed cooperation in diverse areas including high technology, skill development and in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic together.

“Spoke to PM @sugawitter of Japan on phone. We reviewed the progress in various ongoing bilateral initiatives. We also discussed our cooperation in diverse areas including high technology, skill development and in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic together,” tweeted PM Modi. Japan and India are partners in peace with a common interest in and complementary responsibility for promoting the security, stability and prosperity of Asia as well as in advancing international peace and equitable development.

Presently, India is under stress due to the worsening COVID-19 situation. The country reported 3.52 lakh fresh coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours. This is the highest single-day spike registered since the onset of the pandemic.

As India fights against the unprecedented health crisis of COVID-19, global support in the form of oxygen supplies, ventilators, raw material for vaccines, PPT kits and oxygen concentrators have started pouring in.

In the next 48 hours, the United States will be delivering raw material for vaccines, oxygen concentrators, ventilators, PPE kits to India, this was assured by US National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan in his 45-minute-long phone call with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval on Sunday.

India sees it as one of the most tangible support coming in the need of the hour when the country is facing an alarming rise in the COVID-19 numbers. Sources informed that NSA Doval pushed for India’s requirements during the talks. Supply of Remdesivir and raw material required by Serum Institute also figured in the discussion. “Just as India sent assistance to the United States as our hospitals were strained early in the pandemic, the United States is determined to help India in its time of need. To this end, the United States is working around the clock to deploy available resources and supplies. The United States has identified sources of specific raw material urgently required for Indian manufacture of the Covishield vaccine that will immediately be made available for India. The United States also is pursuing options to provide oxygen generation and related supplies on an urgent basis,” said a White House statement released after Doval-Sullivan talks.

NSA Jake Sullivan and Doval also discussed the Quad vaccine initiative in which more than a billion doses are to be produced in India.

The US Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is funding a substantial expansion of manufacturing capability for BioE, the vaccine manufacturer in India, enabling BioE to ramp up to produce at least one billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of 2022.

The United States is deploying an expert team of public health advisors from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and USAID to work in close collaboration with the US Embassy, India’s health ministries, and India’s Epidemic Intelligence Service staff.

USAID will also quickly work with CDC to support and fast-track the mobilisation of emergency resources available to India through the Global Fund.

US President Joe Biden also tweeted earlier today, “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.”

Last year India exported 50 million hydroxychloroquine tablets to the US for the fight against Covid-19.

ANI has learnt that NSA Ajit Doval also held talks with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Tankers for oxygen supply have been sought along with other equipment. It is learnt both the UAE and Saudi Arabia have assured help to India.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is also holding series of talks with various countries to import medicines, oxygen and tankers for fighting the deadly wave of the pandemic, efforts are being made at multiple levels of government to augment the supply chain.

The judicious use of oxygen is important to tackle the second wave of Covid-19, emphasised Dr Randeep Guleria, AIIMS Delhi Director on Monday in a press conference. He also informed that the 92-94 oxygen saturation range is normal.

“We have to reduce the number of cases and use hospital resources optimally. The judicious use of oxygen is very important. Right now, there is an unnecessary panic, which is causing more harm than good,” Dr Guleria told the media in the press conference.

“Unnecessary shortage of essential drug is being created in the market. Oxygen is an important treatment strategy for Covid-19 but misuse of it is also an important factor. If your oxygen saturation is 92, 93, 94, 95, 96 or over 96 it means that there is sufficient oxygen in your body (blood) and enough oxygen is reaching your organs,” the doctor added.

If you are using medical oxygen in the range of 94 or 95 (oxygen saturation) to upgrade it at a level of 98 or 99, this is a misuse of oxygen, he said. The same medical oxygen can be given to one whose oxygen saturation below 90 or at 80. He further said if the oxygen saturation range is reducing then one should contact his/her doctor.

Guleria said that hospital authorities need to ensure that incidents of leakage of oxygen should not take place.

Talking about the use of Remdesivir anti-viral drug, Guleria said, “You should not get into a panic mode if Remdesivir is not available, it is only useful in moderate to severe cases, it is not useful if we administer in an early stage or mild illness, Remdesivir has not shown mortality benefit,” he said.

“If the patient is taking Remdesivir on the first or second day of mild illness, they are misusing the drug; it will generate more side effects as they are consuming it unnecessary,” added Dr Guleria.

The doctor also repeated that in Covid-19, 85% of patients will have a mild illness, which can be treated at home. “If we look at data of India, United Kingdom, United the States of America or Europe, the Covid-19 patients have been treated by supportive treatments like we get well from a common cold. These patients just need home isolation and monitoring to read the warning signs,” he said.

Only 15% of patients need hospital beds, he further said adding that health infrastructure can manage the current crisis if we all make a strategy to use the medical essentials when needed.

(With ANI inputs)