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Ever since India’s lockdown began in March, my life as a reporter has centered on covering how the coronavirus is affecting other people. I reported on at least a dozen cases where patients died after being turned away from crowded hospitals. I interviewed parents who lost their 12-year-old child, a young husband who lost his pregnant wife, a son who lost his father.

A few months ago, I was one of the lead reporters on an article about “virus trains” in India — emergency transportation provided by the government during the spring and summer. They were organized to help transport migrant workers to their home villages, but they also ended up spreading the coronavirus throughout the country. I spent weeks poring over data in various districts.