Impact of COVID-19 2nd Wave on Instagram in India

Abstract

In April 2021, a sudden increase of COVID-19 cases in India began lifting the panic among the people on how to save their life from the double mutant virus and stop the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Night curfew, Break the Chain, and home isolation restrictions were imposed as a collective population response to COVID-19 in the community. Festival like Holi and Laylat al-Bara ‘at, social gatherings like election rallies in West Bengal and Panchayat elections in few states, and religious gatherings like Kumbh Mela increase the spread of the virus among the peoples in India. “On 27 April 2021, India had reached 323,144 new cases, bringing its total confirmed caseload to 17.64 million. According to health ministry data, deaths from COVID-19 raised by 2,771 to reach a total of 197,894.” Rising number of cases in India, citizens are scrambling for medical oxygen, hospital beds, antiviral drugs, and other supplies. Many have even put out desperate pleas on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook to find COVID-related resources for their loved ones at any cost. Resources like available beds in hospitals, ventilators, oxygen cylinders, Remdesivir injections, and medicines like Calpol 650.