Indian states begin easing lockdowns as cases decline
Some of India’s states are easing lockdown restrictions as coronavirus infections subside, with the world’s second most-populous nation on Saturday logging its lowest daily case count in nearly two months.
The national capital territory of Delhi, the seat of India’s federal government, was among those relaxing restrictions and will allow shops to open on alternate days. Shops with even numbers will open on one day while those with odd numbers will open the next day. Private offices will also now be allowed to operate at 50% of normal staffing levels.
Hospitals in Delhi had struggled to provide oxygen cylinders and beds to patients as infections surged but that wave began subsiding from the middle of last month.
Kejriwal said the state would in the future be prepared to deal with 37,000 new cases a day. Its peak thus far was 28,395 new infections on April 20.
In northern Uttar Pradesh, the country’s most populous state, only night curfew restrictions remain for 55 of its 75 districts.
Overall, India saw 120,529 new coronavirus infections emerge over the last 24 hours, while deaths rose by 3,380. The country’s total case tally stands at 28.69 million while 344,082 people have died.
