Covid-19: India extends containment until end of May

"The containment measures to stop the spread of Covid-19 remain in force until May 31" at least, "announced the Indian Interior Minister on Sunday May 17. In his press release, he said that The National Emergency Management Authority added that the restrictions will be changed "if necessary, to facilitate economic activities while containing the virus".

India has thus extended its confinement, but with possible easing in order to "facilitate economic activities". This containment, which affects 1.3 billion people - the largest on the planet - has been in place since the end of March and has had dramatic consequences for the poorest and most precarious Indians, who have been millions. to lose their jobs.

4,987 new infections in 24 hours

Schools, places of worship, shopping malls, cinemas and sports clubs should remain closed. The ban on religious gatherings and sporting events is also being extended, the ministry said. 

Subways as well as domestic and international flights also remain suspended. The current curfew from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. prohibits all travel except for essential services remains in place.

Restaurants, on the other hand, will only be allowed to serve for take-out. Stadiums and sports arenas can be used for meetings, but without an audience. 

The extension of the containment was announced on Sunday, the same day the country recorded its highest 24-hour increase in cases, with 4,987 new infections. This brings the number of cases to over 90,000, and 2,872 deaths. 

"India will not live the worst because of Covid-19, unlike other countries," Health Minister Harsh Vardhan tweeted, adding that governors of Indian states have the flexibility to tailor measures to the local situation.

अन्य देशों की तरह भारत में # COVID19 का प्रचंड रूप नहीं दिखेगा! # COVID__19 को फैलने से रोकने के लिए देश में चौथा #lockdown लागू हो गया है। # Lockdown4 में ज्यादातर अधिकार राज्यों को देना PM श्री @narendramodi जी की की सबको सबको की चिरपरिचित शैली को दर्शाता है। @ HMOIndia pic.twitter.com/iu9nBOK7Ni

Health experts estimate that India will not experience the peak of infections until June or July, and called for more tests to determine the extent of the contamination.

Migrant worker crisis

The collapse of the Indian economy caused a migrant worker crisis, as many companies closed when containment was introduced.

Unemployed and hungry, many migrants have left cities, some walking hundreds of kilometers. Dozens have died in accidents or from exhaustion.

Others, still stranded in the cities, confronted the police during protests in which they claimed to be able to return to their villages of origin.

Five police officers and a journalist were injured in Rajkot, west Gujarat state, on Sunday when more than 3,000 migrant workers clashed with law enforcement after a specially-chartered train was canceled. take them home.

With AFP

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