COVID-19 surge: New Zealand High Commission seeks oxygen support on social media

Many foreign diplomats in the national capital have tested positive

A significant number of foreign diplomats in the national capital have been hit by COVID-19’s deadly second wave. The situation was brought to light on Saturday evening with the Embassy of the Philippines reaching out to the volunteers of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) seeking oxygen cylinders. The health crisis in the capital’s diplomatic enclave came to attention once again with the New Zealand High Commission seeking help from the IYC publicly on Sunday morning. “Could you please help with oxygen cylinder urgently at the New Zealand High Commission,” the High Commission on Sunday morning asked B.V. Srinivas, national president of the IYC. The Hindu has learnt that the High Commission of New Zealand has several cases of COVID-19 out of which two are serious that require oxygen support immediately. The High Commission ostensibly went public after waiting for oxygen cylinders for many hours. The mission had set up a health care unit inside the premises to take care of the ailing diplomats and the support staff but the increasing number of cases has made it impossible for the unit to function without additional oxygen support, it was learnt.