Christian Leaders in India Seek Ways to Ease COVID-19 Crisis

05/02/2021 India (International Christian Concern) – According to the Union of Catholic Asian News (UCAN), Christian leaders in India are seeking ways the Church in India can help ease the current COVID-19 crisis sweeping across the country.

“Our hospitals are full and there is no scope for fresh admissions unless the patients in the hospital are discharged,” Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore told UCAN. “It is not a solution to tell critically ill patients that we have no space for them. They need immediate medical care, especially those in need of a life support system.”

Since mid-April, India has reported more than 300,000 new COVID-19 cases per day. Many claim this number is an underestimation. On April 28, the country reported 360,960 new COVID-19 cases and 3,293 deaths as the country’s medical system teeters on the edge of collapse.

According to UCAN, Archbishop Machado has instructed all Catholic hospitals in his archdiocese to use converted Catholic schools and other institutions as COVID-19 care centers. These centers would help to care for non-critical patients.

“This way we can spare more beds in hospitals for critical patients,” Archbishop Machado explained. “Those who have crossed the critical stage can continue to get their care in the temporary centers.”

“I have made this offer to the state government, but the government has not responded,” Archbishop Machado told UCAN. “The need now is to save lives.”