In Europe, there is a broad consensus that the elderly have suffered the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic—some have called it a “silent massacre.”

On March 25, hoping to suppress the spread of the coronavirus, India began the world’s largest lockdown, affecting 1.3 billion people. But the sudden move to close down all but essential services threw millions out of work and began a desperate exodus of migrant and day laborers out of the big cities.

As much as 75 percent of Lebanon’s population is in need of emergency assistance.

Health work during a pandemic can be dangerous and the thought of falling ill themselves cannot be too far from the minds of medical and sanitation teams. But thousands of other relief and development staff and volunteers will face many of the same risks and fears.

In an exclusive interview conducted over email with America, Archbishop Azevedo criticized Brazilian politicians “in different stances of power” who have “minimized the effects of the pandemic.”

A senior opposition leader said that the lockdown—aimed not to prevent the spread of Covid-19 but to give the health services a window to prepare for it—was now doing more harm than good.