LONDON (CU)_Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland issued a statement on Wednesday (28 April), expressing her deep concern and solidarity with India, as the nation continues to battle the world’s biggest surge of daily COVID-19 infections over the recent days.
According to Health Ministry data, 379,257 new infections and 3,645 new virus-induced deaths were reported on Thursday, bringing the total number of cases and fatalities to 18.38 million and 204,832 respectively. The country’s second wave of the virus has been worsened by shortage of medical oxygen, as well as ventilators, medicine and hospital beds.
“On behalf of the whole Commonwealth family, I want to express our deep concern and solidarity with the people and the Government of India as your national agencies mobilise to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and as the latest wave of infection continues to spread so distressingly in your country,” Scotland said in her statement.
Expressing her gratitude for the support provided by the Indian Government to small and vulnerable Commonwealth nations earlier in the pandemic, the Secretary-General noted that all member states and institutions wish to “reciprocate in that same spirit of mutual support”.
“As such we stand ready to assist in any way that we can and have….
