Virus lockdowns around the world as vaccine efforts stumble

A policewoman walks through a deserted area between the Gateway of India and Taj Mahal Hotel ahead of the scheduled weekend lockdown imposed by the state government amidst rising Covid-19 coronavirus cases in Mumbai

Fresh lockdowns and curfews were imposed on tens of millions of people from India to Argentina on Saturday, as Covid-19 infections surged again and vaccine roll-outs were hampered by shortages and scares over side effects. In India, the worst-hit state of Maharashtra was running out of vaccines as the health system buckled under the weight of the contagion, which has killed 2.9 million people worldwide. Having let its guard down with mass religious festivals, political rallies and spectators at cricket matches, the world's second-most populous nation has added more than a million new infections since late March. Every weekend from Saturday until the end of April, Maharashtra's 125 million people will be confined to their homes unless travelling or shopping for food or medicine.