Australia To Provide Oxygen, Ventilators To India As Support Package
Mumbai: Australia Health Minister Greg Hunt on Monday announced that they will be providing oxygen, ventilators and PPE kits to India as part of an immediate support package to help fight against COVID-19.
The federal government was in the process of considering what it could send to help, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation news channel quoted Hunt as saying.
“India is really gasping for oxygen,” the federal health minister said.
“And while we can assist with the National Medical Store, their special request is for assistance regarding the physical supply of oxygen. That will be one of the things we are looking at, in particular with the states,” the minister said.
According to the report, the federal government confirmed the sending of oxygen, ventilators and personal protective equipment to India as part of an urgent support package to be announced on Tuesday.
However, Australia will not ship vaccines.
Hunt said: “We are in a strong position on that front because we do not need them at this time. We will still keep a reserve, but if they can be of assistance (they will be donated).”
The Cabinet’s National Security Committee is set to meet on Tuesday to discuss any assistance for India, as well as any additional steps needed to reduce the risk of infection spreading to Australia.
The government was also considering banning all flights from India following a widespread spike in coronavirus cases in the country.
The Cabinet meeting will discuss temporarily halting all repatriation flights outside India.
The move could affect thousands of people, including Australian cricketers who are currently playing in the Indian Premier League in India.
Foreign Minister Mariz Payne, Australia’s ambassadors to India Barry and Pharrell, and officials from the Department of Health, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Ministry of Home Affairs were discussing ways to deal with the emerging situation in recent times.
India is struggling with a second wave of the pandemic with more than 3,00,000 daily new coronavirus cases being reported in the past few days, and hospitals in several states are reeling under a shortage of medical oxygen and beds.
India’s tally on Monday climbed to 1,73,13,163 while active cases crossed the 28-lakh mark, with 3,52,991 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in a day, the highest so far, the Health Ministry said.
The death toll rose to 1,95,123 with a record 2,812 new fatalities, it said.
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and like us on Facebook for the latest updates and interesting stories.
