Friend: Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has resumed emergency COVID-19 response in Mumbai, where poor hygiene conditions in parts of the densely populated city could lead to rapid spread of the virus if more isn’t done to prevent transmission and treat people who are ill.

India recently broke a global record when it recorded more than 300,000 new infections in a single day.

“The situation is very worrying,” says Dilip Bhaskaran, COVID-19 coordinator for MSF in Mumbai. “This is the largest upsurge since the pandemic started.”

In response, MSF is supporting local hospitals and health centers with screening and case identification, infection prevention and control measures, triage, digital health promotion, and patient care. We are also preparing to support two units within a large field hospital set up to respond to the COVID-19 crisis in Mumbai, including two sets of tents with about 1,000 intensive care unit beds in each. MSF will provide medical and technical support with oxygen supplies and therapy, as well as helping critically ill patients in intensive care. Read on to see how MSF teams are helping to provide lifesaving care for patients affected by this recent outbreak.