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A man cleans his hands with sanitiser before collecting relief material during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown, in Kolkata. AFP
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Health workers talk to attendants of a patient at a hospital meant for treating COVID-19 patients in New Delhi, India. AP
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An Indian doctor displays collected samples before conducting COVID-19 routine testing at a hospital in Bangalore, India. EPA
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Members of the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) fire brigade spray disinfectant at residential areas during the coronavirus emergency lockdown in Mira Road near Mumbai. EPA
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An Indian health official gives a nasal swab to his colleague inside a COVID-19 mobile testing van before collecting samples from people, as India remains under an unprecedented extended lockdown. Getty
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People stand inside marked circles maintaining social distancing to get groceries distributed by police personnel during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown in Faridabad. AFP
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A worker sprays disinfectant on a gas station during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the Covid-19 coronavirus, in Siliguri. AFP
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A girl reacts as a doctor wearing protective gloves takes a swab from her to test for the coronavirus disease at a residential area in Ahmedabad, India, Reuters
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President of Tejendra Swaha Sahai Sakhi Mandal women's association, Varshaben Mali checks the quality of facemasks made for Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. AFP
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Indian paramilitary soldiers patrol a closed wholesale market in the old quarters of Delhi during a nation wide lockdown to control the spread of the coronavirus in New Delhi, India. AP
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A man gets his body temperature checked as he queues to receive relief material during a lockdown in Kolkata. AFP
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People queue to receive relief material during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown, Kolkata. AFP
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A man cleans his hands with sanitiser before collecting relief material during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown, in Kolkata. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CVGSIVWKZT6C4UFLOKF5HU3S2I.jpg?smart=true&auth=598c9b565c74c52edc092b2e6a6c5ce29ec93264d87197a3b4ac4f58bbd61880&width=400&height=225)
Health workers talk to attendants of a patient at a hospital meant for treating COVID-19 patients in New Delhi, India. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HIMUQCSIERHI4BAUJVXALQZWC4.jpg?smart=true&auth=9a52afbe1a0473ee165313eefbf566168d44aa754e740c92ecf5569e30b120a7&width=400&height=225)
An Indian doctor displays collected samples before conducting COVID-19 routine testing at a hospital in Bangalore, India. EPA
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Members of the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) fire brigade spray disinfectant at residential areas during the coronavirus emergency lockdown in Mira Road near Mumbai. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PPVF6ZP6CILCG3G5HE2D3LCIFU.jpg?smart=true&auth=b431d11a1f9a99b76bc93a67c98bdee8d05f1f70a3c1785d9e17485c25a7d010&width=400&height=225)
An Indian health official gives a nasal swab to his colleague inside a COVID-19 mobile testing van before collecting samples from people, as India remains under an unprecedented extended lockdown. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/USZ62CXV77MT5L3ZM5EW7UIENU.jpg?smart=true&auth=74144c5503cff7a6803d6168cc5d8c1ec57a79ace122db426cfbfdc91e67effd&width=400&height=225)
People stand inside marked circles maintaining social distancing to get groceries distributed by police personnel during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown in Faridabad. AFP
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A worker sprays disinfectant on a gas station during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the Covid-19 coronavirus, in Siliguri. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IIUCJCIWNONHOLA336CICCF4TA.jpg?smart=true&auth=9d34b1e913915d0f76111b3511927b22859c81e3f668dbf7076dc90ca6a73113&width=400&height=225)
A girl reacts as a doctor wearing protective gloves takes a swab from her to test for the coronavirus disease at a residential area in Ahmedabad, India, Reuters
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President of Tejendra Swaha Sahai Sakhi Mandal women's association, Varshaben Mali checks the quality of facemasks made for Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. AFP
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Indian paramilitary soldiers patrol a closed wholesale market in the old quarters of Delhi during a nation wide lockdown to control the spread of the coronavirus in New Delhi, India. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MYI7BD5LRIVXSRLBNM5ISZKCLI.jpg?smart=true&auth=01f437800c1c8618b94b465712b88b543aae899f87a8bcd62090927852dc3881&width=400&height=225)
A man gets his body temperature checked as he queues to receive relief material during a lockdown in Kolkata. AFP
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People queue to receive relief material during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown, Kolkata. AFP
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A man cleans his hands with sanitiser before collecting relief material during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown, in Kolkata. AFP
Coronavirus: How dangerous is a 'double mutated' version of Covid-19 found in India?
New strain found in the west Indian state of Maharashtra, as well as Kerala, Punjab and Delhi
![Daniel Bardsley](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F4dcffed7-67d1-4c6f-b468-84a82d1ddd22.png?smart=true&auth=e4d7a6e3c76d7ec922e25339bc18538c62bc925936c2316006dc89b8a7becdc6&width=70&height=70)
Daniel Bardsley
27 March, 2021
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