The United States has denied a request by India to lift the ban on the export of raw materials essential to produce Covid-19 vaccines as the country suffers through a devastating second coronavirus surge. A US State Department spokesperson said the Biden administration’s first obligation is to take care of the requirements of the American people. So as long as the virus is spreading uncontrolled in this country, it can mutate and it can travel beyond our borders. The Indian government had itself declared it had beaten back the coronavirus in February when new cases fell to all-time lows. The country of around 1.3 billion has now recorded a total of 16.6 million cases, including 189,544 deaths.

Source: The Express Tribune April 24, 2021 12:08 UTC