Just months ago, the Indian government was boasting about its handling of the pandemic. Health officials prematurely declared victory over COVID-19 and began lifting restrictions, which, coupled with a botched vaccination campaign, has proven a recipe for disaster. Now a vicious second wave is sweeping the country and debilitating an already limited healthcare system. This public-health tragedy is a global concern—not just because of the spread of India’s triple-mutant variant, but also because of the ramifications for economic recovery worldwide.
