A major COVID-19 outbreak among US diplomatic staff in India has left 2 dead and over 100 infected: CNN
- COVID-19 cases are surging in India as confirmed cases have skyrocketed in just two months.
- The outbreak spread to US diplomatic staff in the country, infecting over 100 and killing 2, according to CNN.
- The US has several consulates in India and an embassy, but the location of the staff outbreak wasn't revealed.
A major COVID-19 outbreak among US diplomatic staff in India has led to two deaths and more than 100 people testing positive for the virus in recent weeks, sources told CNN.
The sources did not tell CNN where the outbreak happened, but the United States has four consulates across India and an embassy in New Delhi.
CNN reported that the two who died were locally employed staff members. One source told the outlet that diplomatic staff and families had only started receiving COVID-19 vaccines within the past two weeks.
A spokesperson for the State Department couldn't confirm the report of cases within their diplomatic staff.
COVID-19 cases and deaths are surging in India, overwhelming hospitals. India reported 352,991 new COVID-19 cases on Monday. The country has recorded more than 17 million COVID-19 cases since the virus started to spread, and has had more than 195,000 confirmed deaths, according to Johns Hopkins.
Indian crematories have begun running non-stop to fill the increasing demand as COVID-related deaths continue to rise, leading to some crematories to overheat and melt from the constant stress.