evidence: India’s 2 deadly waves of COVID-19 are estimated to have killed 4 million people by June 2021, but intermittent lockdowns took a separate toll on Indians with leprosy. Detection, treatment, and rehabilitative services were severely disrupted. One indication of COVID-19’s impact on leprosy screening in India is the sharp reduction in the number of new leprosy cases detected. In 2019-2020 during the year before the pandemic, 114,451 new cases were recorded, according to the government’s official count. But in 2020-2021, only 65,147 new cases were detected, according to WHO. [...] Since leprosy affects the nerves, patients often develop painless ulcers, lesions, and sores on the feet that cause damage to tissues and bones. This can affect their ability to walk. To deal with these problems, many rely on specialized footwear. The entire sandal is made from microcellular rubber and is springy and soft, with custom-made insoles that can ease pressure on foot ulcers by redistributing body weight, says physiotherapist Preethi Suresh. At Dayapuram, the footwear is provided free to every leprosy patient. Before the pandemic, Dayapuram’s cobbler, M. Pandi, produced up to 1,000 pairs per month. Then COVID-19 disruptions ground his production to a halt. He is just now getting closer to his pre-COVID production capacity.