But millions more are still stuck as all railway movement across the country has been halted. The government announced an US$22 billion (S$31 billion) relief package on Thursday, but the terror is palpable as families sit huddled under flyovers and near bus stops unsure of what happens next. Local media have reported thousands of people are simply walking hundreds of kilometres toward their villages, clutching their children and meagre belongings.

The test starts with taking a swab from the nose or the back of the throat, then mixing it with a chemical solution that breaks open the virus and releases its RNA. The mixture is inserted into an ID Now system, a small box weighing just under 7 pounds that has the technology to identify and amplify select sequences of the coronavirus genome and ignore contamination from other viruses.

One drug on the list, chloroquine, kills the single-celled parasite that causes malaria

The quandary facing India’s informal workforce of 450 million people is one of the starkest examples of how social inequality threatens to undermine virus containment efforts around the world. From undocumented minimum-wage workers in the world’s richest postcodes to job-seekers flooding into swelling metropolises, the urban poor often have limited access to health care, no medical insurance and no financial safety net.

The cancellations are also highlighting fights with a little-known corner of the industry: wedding insurance. Couples have begun battling with companies they paid in case of disaster, only to hear back that no policy can cover a global pandemic.

The issue highlights how difficult it is for countries to tackle the virus without destroying livelihoods – a challenge that is especially acute in developing nations with significant populations living hand-to-mouth.

From government leaders to health workers and family and friends, this messaging service will provide the latest news and information on coronavirus including details on symptoms and how people can protect themselves and others. It also provides the latest situation reports and numbers in real time to help government decision-makers protect the health of their populations.