The second wave of COVID-19 is reaching extremely alarming levels in India, with a positivity rate that has increased to 6.2%. MSF recently restarted its COVID intervention in Mumbai, Maharashtra, where the increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases have been devastating to the healthcare system and overwhelming for all healthcare providers. The city is densely populated with almost 42% of the population living in low-income housing with poor hygiene facilities which put them at a very high risk of infections.



The current surge in severe cases of COVID-19 has increased the number of people requiring hospitalisation and oxygen therapy, which is why MSF has begun supporting one of the dedicated COVID health centers in Mumbai. Human resources are stretched to the maximum and with the increasing number of cases and those in need of hospital beds, it is likely that the health system will be further stretched.



Overall access to health care is compromised. In Mumbai, COVID-19 care is organised in dedicated hospitals but also non-COVID-19 care is under stress as the whole health system is dealing with this crisis. The virus has crippled some of the most advanced health systems, in countries that have a social safety net, where most people have access to running water and space to self-isolate. This is simply not possible for people in many of the countries where we typically work. In particular, people living in large settlements, in overcrowded conditions with little sanitation and access to healthcare can be hugely at risk.