Red Cross scales up operations as COVID spreads from India to neighbouring countries

Local charities in Nepal and Bangladesh are scaling up their COVID response as the crisis spills over the borders from India including an outbreak at the Mount Everest base camp. Australian Red Cross International Director Michael Annear told Sky News “our concern is right across the whole South Asia region where at the moment we see 3.5 million active cases”. “Particularly we’re concerned about the impact in Nepal at this point in time where in the recent weeks we’ve seen the daily peak number of cases reaching more than 9,000. “The number of positive test results coming back in early March was around 2 per cent whereas today we’re seeing 40 per cent across the country”. Mr Annear said the charity is supporting the efforts of the local authorities to “help reinforce the work that they’re doing in provision of health and community awareness”. Via news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site https://www.news.com.au