The Biden administration’s medical assistance will provide huge relief to India fighting the second wave of coronavirus

India has received the first of several emergency Covid-19 relief shipments from the United States. This came days after US President Joe Biden committed to support India in its fight against the pandemic.

“The first of several emergency COVID-19 relief shipments from the United States has arrived in India! Building on over 70 years of cooperation, the United States stands with India as we fight the COVID-19 pandemic together. #USIndiaDosti,” the US Embassy in India said in a tweet.

https://twitter.com/USAndIndia/status/1387963303238897665

After receiving the supplies, the Ministry of External Affairs thanked the US for this gesture.

“A strategic partnership of global significance! Our healthcare partnership can help effectively tackle the global pandemic. Deeply appreciate gift of 423 oxygen cylinders with regulators and other medical supplies from the U.S.A,” said MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in a tweet.

https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/1387976006410018817

The White House has said the US would be sending supplies worth more than $100 million to India and "meet the urgent health needs of the Indian people".

In a statement on Wednesday, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) said, "The United States deployed the first of several emergency Covid-19 relief shipments to India. Arriving in New Delhi from Travis Air Force Base on the world's largest military aircraft, the shipment includes 440 oxygen cylinders and regulators."

"In addition, on this first flight, USAID has sent 960,000 Rapid Diagnostic Tests to identify infections early to help prevent the community spread of Covid-19, and 100,000 N95 masks to protect India’s frontline healthcare heroes," the statement said.

The Biden administration has also redirected its own order of AstraZeneca manufacturing supplies to India, which will allow it to make over 20 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also locally procured oxygen cylinders and will deliver them to support hospital systems in India.

The US is also providing the first tranche of a planned 20,000 treatment courses of the anti-viral drug Remdesivir to help treat hospitalized Covid-19 patients.

The statement noted “just as India provided sent assistance to the United States when US hospitals were strained early in the pandemic, the United States is now helping India during its time of need.”

Although Biden’s stance came after much criticism, it is expected to provide huge relief to India which is grappled in the second wave of coronavirus.

In another record, India has reported more than 3.8 lakh cases in a time span of 24 hours. 3,498 deaths were reported in the country on Thursday.