In India, sentenced to a yoga session for defying confinement

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In India, a hundred citizens who braved confinement were forced by the police to a yoga session in the city of Pune. Since the beginning of the epidemic, the government intends to demonstrate the effectiveness of traditional medicines.

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With our correspondent in Bangalore, Côme Bastin

The video shows a hundred people stretching in cadence, at the orders of megaphones. Their fault: having defied confinement. Their punishment: a yoga session in the street, respecting, of course, social distancing. This is the method chosen in the city of Pune Thursday April 16, to fight against those who break the rules. A hundred citizens were forced into this exercise, which nevertheless did not prevent them from being charged by the police. 

#WATCH Maharashtra: Police made people, who violated lockdown for a morning walk, perform yoga in Bibvewadi area of ​​Pune, early morning today. #CoronavirusLockdown pic.twitter.com/m5ooX6ixaN

This news item illustrates the desire in India to promote yoga and alternative medicines against the coronavirus. On Twitter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted several yoga classes with his own 3D effigy.

For its part, the Ayush ministry, which specializes in traditional medicines, regularly publishes dietary advice. For example, he recommends drinking a cup of turmeric milk to strengthen the immune system. While these practices can improve mental and physical well-being, their effectiveness against the virus has not been proven. Following the extension of containment, the government launched a scientific mission to try to accredit their potential.

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• Coronavirus
• India