India’s second Covid-19 wave

The coronavirus is again rippling across India. Confirmed infections have risen to about 31,600 daily from a low of about 9,800 in February. In a recent two-week period, deaths from the virus shot up by 82 percent.

The outbreak is centered on the state of Maharashtra, home to Mumbai. Entire districts have gone back into lockdown. Scientists are investigating whether a new strain found in the state is more virulent, like variants found in Britain, South Africa and Brazil.

Officials are under pressure to aggressively ramp up testing and vaccination, especially in Mumbai. Stepping up vaccinations in India could have an impact globally. India is a crucial link in the vaccine supply chain: It has given away or sold tens of millions of doses to other countries, even as it struggles to vaccinate its own people.

The foreign minister has said that the availability of vaccines in India will determine how many doses go overseas. India’s slow vaccination campaign has also been plagued by public skepticism.

Here are the latest updates and maps of the pandemic.

In other developments:

A growing chorus of health officials and advocacy groups are calling for Western governments to force companies to publish vaccine recipes, share their know-how and ramp up manufacturing to ensure broader vaccine access worldwide.
Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan is isolating at home after testing positive for the virus.
U.S. Muslim groups are trying to get the word out that receiving a vaccination shot during the upcoming Ramadan will not break the fast.
The New York Times