Covid curbs eased as cases dip
EXPERTS HAVE CAUTIONED AGAINST FULL REOPENING OVER RESURGENCE FEARS
Many Indian states eased coronavirus restrictions yesterday including the capital Delhi, where authorities allowed all shops and malls to open, as the number of new infections dropped to the lowest in more than two months.
Experts have cautioned against a full reopening as India has vaccinated only about five per cent of its estimated 950 million adults with the necessary two doses, leaving millions vulnerable.
Infections peaked in India in May with about 400,000 new cases a day but that dropped to 70,421 new infections reported on yesterday, the lowest daily increase since March 31, health ministry data showed.
The number of deaths went up by 3,921, the data showed.
India has had the secondhighest tally of Covid-19 infections in the world after the United States, with 29.51 million cases and 374,305 deaths, according to ministry data.
Authorities in Delhi allowed all shops and malls to reopen although bars, gyms, salons, cinemas and parks remained shut.
Markets under watch
City chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that markets and restaurants would be carefully watched this week.
“If we see coronavirus cases are going up, we will have to reimpose strict restrictions,” Kejriwal said in a televised address.
Hospitals in Delhi had struggled to provide oxygen cylinders and beds to patients last month as infections surged but earlier this month, the city allowed businesses to bring back 50 per cent of employees and they partially resumed public transport.
In the southern state of Tamil Nadu, known for automobile manufacturing, some businesses were allowed to bring back 50 per cent of employees and salons and liquor shops reopened. Bus services remained suspended until June 21.
In Bengaluru, the capital of neighbouring Karnataka state and a major tech hub, traffic returned to the streets as authorities allowed the partial reopening of businesses though strict night and weekend curfews remained in place.