COVID-19 second wave: People take to social media with requests for hospitals beds, remdesivir, plasma

As the country grapples with the worst surge in COVID-19 cases amid the lethal second wave, thousands of people across the country have flooded various social media platforms, requesting authorities and users to arrange or inform about where to find ventilator beds, plasma from recovered patients, oxygen cylinders and drugs like Remdesivir and Tocilizumab, among others.

People are posting messages and pictures of relatives, friends and common people in dire need of ventilator beds, oxygen cylinders, plasma and life-saving injections meant for emergency use authorisation (EUA).

URGENT HELP NEEDED. A bed & oxygen cylinder is required for a covid positive young girl who is critical. Oxygen level is going down. Name- Kavita, resident of Pashchim Vihar, Delhi.
Pls help @p_sahibsingh @GautamGambhir @KapilMishra_IND @TajinderBagga @Punitspeaks @abhayvermabjp

— Stuti Sardana (@stutisardana) April 17, 2021

Bangalore Tweeple.. Is there a bed available somewhere for a covid patient? My uncle is in dire need. O2 levels going down. @dp_satish @fayedsouza @BBMPCOMM @WFRising Checked so many.. All beds full in Banshankari area. Anywhere in bangalore would be fine.

— Saurabh Joshi (@saurabhiaf) April 17, 2021

MP Government is failing miserably to provide medical help at hospitals, to all the Covid positive patients. No beds in hospitals, shortage of basic medicines, shortage of test kits, delay in test results, shortage of oxygen cylinders etc.@CMMadhyaPradesh @ChouhanShivraj 

— Sanjana Roy (@Sanjana36373874) April 18, 2021

No beds available. Neither in hospitals nor in graveyard. People are dying on streets. Died bodies are in waiting list. Situation is out of control in lucknow #POSTPONE_SSC_CHSL #POSTPONE_SSC_CHSL

— बेरोजगार भारतीय Laxman meena (@laxman_meena_65) April 18, 2021

@derekobrienmp @MamataOfficial hospital beds are exhausted in kolkata why are bigger Center’s not being created to help patients? I understand we are the middle of elections. Request your help @kmc_kolkata for my 85 year old grandmother who is breathless

— Krishna Daswwani (@dswnque) April 18, 2021

Need an ICU bed at Ahmedabad ..
Share resources if available..

— Dhiraj (@Dhiraj_____) April 18, 2021

Why is #DelhiCoronaApp showing 300 beds in Mata Chanan Devi Hospital? It was 200 until a day or two ago, and my dad, who works there, insists that the capacity is 200 and all beds are fully occupied!#Delhi #Covid_19 @CMODelhi

— Aneish Goel (@aneish_goel) April 18, 2021

Several others asked users about remdesivir which is currently in short supply.

We are receiving calls continuously!

Maximum requests for #Beds, #Oxygen and #Remdesevir

Its bad situation out there!

We are trying our level best to help maximum people in coordination with @Iamrahulkanal ji and @ipaddy

— Red boys Foundation™ (@RedboysF) April 17, 2021

Urgent need of Remdesivir and 2 units of B+ plasma. Let me know if you know someone. #Remdesevir #coviddelhi

— Samarth (@samarthmahajan3) April 18, 2021

@KTRTRS @imAkbarOwaisi @ArogyaTelangana @Eatala_Rajender @TelanganaHealth . Sir #Remdesevir injection are not available in Princess Asra hospital. Please help Us. We are unable to get even from outside. Need immediate response. Kindly help us in this bad situation

— احمد بن محمود (@Iam_Ahmedbin) April 18, 2021

Why is there 2days worth of line for this medicine? is this why serious cases have to forcefully buy #Remdesevir at insanely high prices? What is happening in our country? Why does my friend have to get #Remedisivir for his granny and parents for more than 100× the original MRP?

— Harshal (@harshalnexus4) April 17, 2021

Delhi Chief Minister Arvid Kejriwal on Saturday (April 18) admitted there is shortage of beds and oxygen amid surge in COVID-19 patients in the national capital.

"Delhi is fast running out of beds, oxygen and the life-saving drug Remdesivir as Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours have reached 24,000. The situation is very serious and worrisome. The cases have gone up really fast," he said.

Na beds hain
Na medicine Fabiflu 400mg 200mg glenmark ki
.......plz help... Delhites are dying sir........ No beds.... Only influential... Sourceful people getting beds in hospital

— Gaurav (@Gaurav15770531) April 18, 2021

@ArvindKejriwal no one is picking our calls moreover if we try to connect hospital they are denying for beds...

— Vineet Gupta (@VineetG23750085) April 18, 2021

Meanwhile, due to its shortage, the government has slashed the prices of the ‘life-saver’ Remdesivir injection by nearly 50 per cent, to Rs 2,450 per injection now, according to official sources.

In such difficult times, some came forward on social media to help those suffering from Covid infections.

If you're in isolation in #Gurgaon or have elders living alone, I can do grocery/medicine runs for you or your family.

DM me the things needed and the address. I'll get them, and leave the bag outside your door.

— Abhishek Baxi (@baxiabhishek) April 17, 2021

@FI_InvestIndia Please share #covidhelp https://t.co/WW0DsIEFOX

— Arushi (@arushi_333) April 18, 2021

India has reported 2,61,500 fresh Covid cases in the last 24 hours, the highest single-day spike ever, pushing the country’s overall Covid tally to 1,47,88,109, according to the Health Ministry data released on Sunday.

This is the fourth consecutive day that the country has registered over two lakh Covid cases. India recorded 2,34,692 cases on Saturday, 2,00,739 and 2,17,353 cases on Thursday and Friday, respectively.