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April 20, 2021

Migrant Workers Flee India's Capital Ahead of Lockdown as Coronavirus Cases Soar
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India's capital has been ordered to lock down for six days as
coronavirus cases surge to record levels. Just before the lockdown took
effect, thousands of migrant workers rushed to bus terminals in Delhi's
outskirts, bound for hometowns away from the capital. Public health
officials warn the mass exodus could lead to new COVID outbreaks. India
reported nearly 260,000 new infections Monday, but a shortage of testing
capacity means the true level of infection is likely much higher.
Several major Indian cities have reported far higher numbers of
cremations and burials than official death counts.

About 8% of people in India have received at least one dose of a COVID
vaccine. On Friday, the head of the Serum Institute of India - the
world's single largest producer of vaccines - urged President Joe Biden
to lift a U.S. export ban on raw materials critical to the production of
vaccines.


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