Sending $100 million worth of COVID-19 supplies to India, says US

The United States on Wednesday said that it
was sending about $100 million worth of aid, including one million instant test
kits, to India via the first flight carrying supplies, reported AFP. White
House noted that its flight would arrive in New Delhi on Thursday via a
military aircraft.

The events come days after Biden assured
assistance to India, as the latter fights a coronavirus pandemic spiralling out
of control.

Also read: COVID-19: Switzerland becomes latest to pledge medical aid to India

The first shipment includes 950,000
rapid test kits, and 100,000 N95 masks for healthcare workers.

The US further added that aid reaching
India in coming days would include 1,000 refillable oxygen cylinders and 1,700
oxygen concentrators.

“Just as India sent assistance
to the United States when our hospitals were strained early in the pandemic,
the United States is determined to help India in its time of need,” AFP quoted
a White House statement as saying.

Also read: Medical oxygen: Why it is lacking and how it is made

Apart from the aforementioned, the White
House also said that it would be sending raw material to produce 20 million
vaccine doses.

White House on Sunday had promised to
let India access material to produce Covishield, after facing criticism that
accused it of hogging supplies, despite implementing mass vaccination.

India, on Thursday, recorded a total of
about 380,000 new daily COVID-19 cases. The sharp spike has seen both
infections and deaths skyrocket in the country, with hospitals and crematoriums
overflowing with cases and deaths.