


‘Horrible’ Weeks Ahead, India Tops 20m Covid Cases
India on Tuesday confirmed more than 20 million coronavirus infections in the official total, though the figure is believed to be a vast undercount.
A vicious surge in Covid-19 cases has left the country’s healthcare system at breaking point, with hospitals running out of oxygen and nearly all hospital beds occupied.
The country has witnessed scenes of people dying outside overwhelmed hospitals and funeral pyres lighting up the night sky.
Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has called for a nationwide lockdown as the country’s tally of coronavirus infections surged past 20 million, becoming the second nation after the United States to pass the grim milestone.
“The only way to stop the spread of Corona now is a full lockdown… GOI’s inaction is killing many innocent people,” Congress MP Gandhi said on Twitter, referring to the government of India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is reluctant to impose a national lockdown due to the economic fall out, yet several states have imposed various social restrictions.
Dr Ashish Jha, dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health in the United States, said he is concerned that Indian policymakers he has been in contact with believe things will improve in the next few days.
“I’ve been … trying to say to them, ‘If everything goes very well, things will be horrible for the next several weeks. And it may be much longer,’” he said.
Jha said the focus needs to be on “classic” public health measures: targeted shutdowns, more testing, universal mask-wearing and avoiding large gatherings. “That is what’s going to break the back of this surge,” he said.

Barcelona Miss Chance To Go Top After Defeat Against Granada
Barcelona missed the chance to go top of La Liga as they suffered a surprise home defeat by Granada.
Lionel Messi had given the hosts the lead when he combined with Antoine Griezmann before slotting into the far corner.
Barcelona missed several opportunities to add to their lead before Darwin Machis drove in the equalizer in the second half.
Substitute Jorge Molina then headed in the winner for the visitors late on.
Victory would have put Barcelona one point clear at the top of the table with five games to go but instead they stay third, two points behind leaders Atletico Madrid and level with Real Madrid.
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid meet in what looks set to be a crunch battle in the title race on Saturday, 8 May.

Manchester United Put Six Past Roma In Semi-Final First Leg
Bruno Fernandes and Edinson Cavani both scored twice as Manchester United came from behind to take a major step towards sealing a place in next month's Europa League final.
Fernandes gave United a perfect start in their semi-final with Italian side Roma when he swept home Cavani's first-time lay-off.
Paul Pogba's handball allowed Lorenzo Pellegrini to equalise before the Roma skipper's pass allowed former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko to score his sixth goal in five Old Trafford appearances to turn the tie on its head by half-time.
But United rallied after the break. Cavani levelled with a superb first-time effort before tapping the hosts back in front when substitute keeper Antonio Mirante pushed Aaron Wan-Bissaka's angled shot into his path.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men were in no mood to let their advantage slip a second time, although it took a fortunate penalty for what seemed to be an innocuous Chris Smalling tackle on Cavani to give Fernandes the chance add a fourth from the spot.
Pogba then powered home a precise header from Fernandes' cross before Greenwood ran on to Cavani's pass and drove home United's sixth, making them the first side to score six goals in a major European semi-final since Real Madrid in the 1964 European Cup.