The first consignment of Covid-19 assistance from the United States arrived in India on Friday as the country battles the second and deadlier wave of the coronavirus pandemic amid stretched health infrastructure, the US embassy said.
“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 tweeted. The first shipment from the US includes 440 oxygen cylinders and regulators donated by the state of California and 960,000 rapid diagnostic tests and 100,000 N95 masks provided by USAID. On Sunday, the US promised to provide India raw material urgently needed for making the Covishield vaccine and supply of equipment like ventilators and oxygen generation gear to support the country’s response to a massive surge in Covid-19 cases. “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,” the White House said in a statement earlier. US President Joe Biden has pledged sustained support to India in its fight against Covid. “Just as India sent assistance to the United States as our hospitals were strained early in the pandemic, we are determined to help India in its time of need,” Biden said in a tweet.
