States rush to identify high-risk zones to remain in lockdown

Indian states yesterday began identifying high-risk zones where coronavirus lockdowns should continue while the rest of country gears up to reopen in June despite a record rise in Covid-19 cases, officials said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has extended lockdown until June 30 in so-called containment zones that should remain under lockdown because they continue to report a high number of infections.

But restaurants, malls and religious buildings are permitted to reopen elsewhere from June 8 as India loosens the world’s longest lockdown to curb the spread of the spread of the pandemic.

India has reported 182,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases, with 5,164 deaths.

In Uttar Pradesh, the country’s most populous state, a health official said 1,111 containment zones has been identified, while authorities in the western Gujarat state said that more than 400,000 houses were marked as highrisk zones.

Officials in the western state of Maharastra said all markets, except malls and congested spaces, will be allowed to function in a staggered manner.

The eastern state of West Bengal identified 285 containment zones in its capital, Kolkata.

In a radio address to the nation yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned citizens to remain vigilant.

“The fight against the coronavirus is intense, we cannot drop our guard,” he said.

“Wearing a mask, gloves and following social distancing rules is essential as everyone will soon start stepping out of their homes,” Modi said.

“We really need to be more vigilant now,” he said.

Critics blame Modi’s government for poor planning ahead of its abrupt declaration of a lockdown in March, leaving millions of the country’s poor stranded.

“We are all sorry for the loss that has occurred,” Modi said as he hailed the country’s “united” efforts towards fighting the virus.

Critics said Modi had now left states with the responsibility of establishing rules to contain the virus.

“But this decision could have been taken at the start of May when there were fewer coronavirus cases,” said Ajay Trivedi, a political scientist at the University of Bombay.

“The lockdown was not the right route to break the chain of the virus as the Modi government had claimed while imposing the harsh measure,” he said.