For more information about how to help India click here.
India’s current massive increase in cases follows a months-long, widespread belief that the country had escaped the worst of the pandemic. For example, on December 20, 2020, the United States had a seven-day average of 216,093 cases a day, dwarfing India’s average of 24,337. However, as the United States has begun to see a decrease in cases, India’s have grown exponentially, making it the country with the highest rate of cases per day. On Monday, April 26th, India documented 323,023 new COVID-19 cases, an 131% increase compared to two weeks prior, and 2,771 fatalities, which marks a 215% increase.
Nearly 8,000 miles away, the Bay Area has seen a steady decrease in COVID-19 cases, accompanied by more vaccinations being administered every day (69.4% of people ages 16+ have received a vaccination in San Mateo County). As life begins to return to some semblance of normalcy in our community, it’s more necessary than ever to support struggling communities.
India Covid Help, a website created by several Indian Bay Area residents, aims to simplify the process of donating to reputable organizations that will directly provide relief. Through the website, you can donate to provide food, sanitary napkins, and hospital equipment, with all money going directly to the organizations. While hospital equipment may seem like the only necessary donation, the massive influx of illness, hospitalizations, and deaths has left many citizens in an economic lurch, creating the need for other essentials.
For example, donating $23.70 USD through the food tab will “provide 2 meals a day for a week to one family,” through organizations such as Rise Against Hunger to do so. Organizations like Mission Oxygen are working to provide oxygen concentrators to hospitals throughout India.
(Link from Lauren Dergance via Nextdoor)
