Message from the Publisher 034 – Attention: India and Perth

Attention: India and Perth

Around the world, the surge in Covid-19 cases in India caught the attention of the world. The hospital system is currently overwhelmed in India with the demand for oxygen supplies to keep the patients alive. India produces 21% of coronavirus vaccine (195.02 million) and has administered 127.13 million doses up to now. But that contributes to less than 10% of its 1.3 billion population.

With the outbreak with over 350,000 new cases a day, and over 2800 deaths a day, and little sign of slowing down, a humanitarian disaster is looming. The US and other countries are pledging to send medical supplies and vaccine materials to India to help to fight this Covid-19 battle with Indians. Fast vaccination is the only hope to control the spread of Covid-19 in India.

Our hearts are with the Indian community in Australia and pray that the disaster will be controlled.

In Australia, Perth and the surrounding Peel region have gone into lockdown since Friday last week and Premier McGowan just announced the success of the snap lockdown in containing the virus. However, the restriction will be slowly released in steps with the first stage of restriction applies until Saturday this week.

The lockdown sparked from virus leaking into the community by hotel quarantine returning citizens from India. The immediate cutting down of flights from India by 30% by the federal government did not stop the urge to reconsider permitting travelling overseas. The returning resident leading to the outbreak was permitted for an overseas marriage trip to India.

State leaders have criticized the federal policy of allowing a large number of Australians to leave and return to the country causing a high risk in containing the outbreak. It is not easy to a complete lockdown of Australia to international travels. To weigh the significance of the travel need of individuals against the possible risk of spreading the virus is not easy. Obviously, the federal government should do more consultation in such a policy.

Raymond Chow

Publisher, BlessingCALD