A fast-spreading strain of COVID-19 first identified in India has been declared a “variant of global concern” by the World Health Organization. India has become the pandemic’s epicentre reporting more than 300,000 new virus infections for the past 9 days straight. The crisis has been overwhelming for health officials and those seeking to hold funerals. Yesterday, the bodies of at least 100 people washed up on the banks of the Ganges river in northern India – reports say they were people who were unable to be cremated because of a wood shortage and the rising funeral costs. There’s growing concern over rising cases across India’s borders – that includes Nepal where more than 40% of all COVID tests are showing a positive result, according to the Red Cross.