Delhi to ease Covid-19 restrictions as cases drop
Published: 08:05 PM,May 23,2021 | EDITED : 07:05 PM,May 23,2021
Deserted roads are seen during a lockdown imposed as preventive measure against the spread of the coronavirus in Siliguri. - AFP
NEW DELHI: India's capital New Delhi will start relaxing its strict coronavirus lockdown next week if new cases continue to drop in the city, its chief minister said on Sunday.
The nation on Sunday reported 240,842 new infections nationwide over 24 hours - the lowest daily new cases in more than a month - and 3,741 deaths.
For weeks, India has battled a devastating second wave of Covid-19 that has crippled its health system and led to shortages of oxygen supplies.
New Delhi, one of the worst hit cities, went into lockdown on April 20, but new cases have declined in recent weeks and test positivity rate has fallen under 2.5 per cent, compared to 36 per cent last month, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said.
'If cases continue to drop for a week, then from May 31 we will start the process of unlocking,' Kejriwal told a news conference.
Delhi reported around 1,600 new Covid-19 cases in the previous 24 hours, he said.
Many states remain in lockdown, raising worries about the economic impact of the pandemic.
The chief of state-run Indian Council of Medical Research told Reuters this month that districts with a high rate of infection should remain locked down for six to eight weeks to break the chain of transmission.
India's daily Covid-19 cases are decreasing after peaking on May 9. The government said on Sunday it is conducting the highest number of Covid-19 tests, with more than 2.1 million samples tested in the previous 24 hours.
Still, experts have warned India could face a third wave of infections in coming months, and many states are unable to vaccinate those aged under 45 due to a shortage of supplies.
The world's largest vaccine-producing nation has fully vaccinated just over 41.6 million people, or only 3.8 per cent of its 1.35 billion population.
Meanwhile, India on Sunday reported 240,842 new coronavirus infections over the last 24 hours and deaths rose by 3,741.
Total infections in the country stood at 26.5 million while the country's total death toll was at 299,266, according to data from the health ministry.
India leads the world in the daily average number of new deaths reported, accounting for one in every three deaths reported worldwide each day, according to a Reuters tally. - Reuters
The nation on Sunday reported 240,842 new infections nationwide over 24 hours - the lowest daily new cases in more than a month - and 3,741 deaths.
For weeks, India has battled a devastating second wave of Covid-19 that has crippled its health system and led to shortages of oxygen supplies.
New Delhi, one of the worst hit cities, went into lockdown on April 20, but new cases have declined in recent weeks and test positivity rate has fallen under 2.5 per cent, compared to 36 per cent last month, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said.
'If cases continue to drop for a week, then from May 31 we will start the process of unlocking,' Kejriwal told a news conference.
Delhi reported around 1,600 new Covid-19 cases in the previous 24 hours, he said.
Many states remain in lockdown, raising worries about the economic impact of the pandemic.
The chief of state-run Indian Council of Medical Research told Reuters this month that districts with a high rate of infection should remain locked down for six to eight weeks to break the chain of transmission.
India's daily Covid-19 cases are decreasing after peaking on May 9. The government said on Sunday it is conducting the highest number of Covid-19 tests, with more than 2.1 million samples tested in the previous 24 hours.
Still, experts have warned India could face a third wave of infections in coming months, and many states are unable to vaccinate those aged under 45 due to a shortage of supplies.
The world's largest vaccine-producing nation has fully vaccinated just over 41.6 million people, or only 3.8 per cent of its 1.35 billion population.
Meanwhile, India on Sunday reported 240,842 new coronavirus infections over the last 24 hours and deaths rose by 3,741.
Total infections in the country stood at 26.5 million while the country's total death toll was at 299,266, according to data from the health ministry.
India leads the world in the daily average number of new deaths reported, accounting for one in every three deaths reported worldwide each day, according to a Reuters tally. - Reuters