U.S. restricts travel from India

The Indian Health Ministry reported almost 3,500 deaths over 24 hours on Friday, and experts say the country is likely undercounting both deaths and infections. On the advice of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Biden administration announced it is restricting travel from India starting May 4. The United States has begun sending medical supplies, including virus tests and oxygen, and a team of CDC experts is scheduled to arrive to help the Indian government respond to the crisis.

How bad are things? The Indian army opened its hospitals on Friday as the massive increase in cases overwhelmed the country’s healthcare system. Many families have taken to social media to find oxygen, beds, and medicine for the sick. India has recorded an average of nearly 350,000 new infections a day for more than a week, with a global record of 386,452 on Friday. Less than 10 percent of the population has had a COVID-19 shot, and about 1.5 percent are considered fully vaccinated.

Dig deeper: Read Mindy Belz’s report in Globe Trot about the global vaccination campaign.