Business Roundtable Statement on Response to COVID-19 Outbreak in India

Washington - Business Roundtable today issued the following statement following a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken, Deputy National Security Advisor Kurt Campbell and coordinator for global COVID response and health security Gayle Smith to discuss response efforts to the rapid increase of COVID-19 infections in India. Thirty-three Business Roundtable CEOs participated in the call.

“The recent tragic spike in COVID-19 infections in India presents enormous humanitarian and economic risks, given the size of its population and the critical role the country plays in producing medicines, therapeutics and vaccines for the world. Business Roundtable applauds the Administration’s recent announcement of efforts to help India meet its immediate public health needs and to strengthen its role in the global effort to defeat COVID-19. The Roundtable particularly welcomes today’s announcement that the United States will share up to 60 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses with other countries, including India.

“As long as the pandemic continues to surge around the globe, it will continue to pose risks in the United States. Business Roundtable members have come together, including working with their in-country teams to procure critically needed oxygen supply and production capacity, ventilators, PPE and other supplies to help India and its citizens. The Roundtable is proud to work with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business leaders on the U.S. business community response effort.”

Business Roundtable will continue to support U.S. efforts to partner with other countries to help those in highest need, and supports the Administration’s commitment to fund the COVAX platform to facilitate vaccine distribution around the world.