Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ordered for extension of lockdown till May 3 on Tuesday as coronavirus infected cases continue to surge beyond 10,000.
The Indian PM addressed the nation on national TV urging the Indians to honor the lockdown rules till the given deadline.
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“Till May 3, every Indian will have to stay in lockdown. I request all Indians that we stop the coronavirus from spreading to other areas,” he said.
COVID-19 cases reached 10,363, while government sources have confirmed over 300 deaths so far.
Global health experts have blamed India for not conducting tests on an adequate number of people and therefore suspect the number of cases to be higher than the country is officially reporting.
States like Maharashtra have the highest population of infected people while Tamil Nadu and Odisha have extended lockdown.
Indian economy is heavily suffering as the country has strictly banned all commercial and social activity since March 25, the worst hit being the poor. Daily wagers have lost their jobs in thousands. Heavy migration from urban metropolises of the underprivileged labourers back to their hometowns, mostly on foot in the absence of proper transport, has led to the deaths of many during their journey. Indian police were shown hosing down local migrants with chemicals. Many others are forced to stay back in unhygienic lowdown slums which are highly prone to spread of infection due to close living. The government is providing free meals to thousands of people as they cannot fend for themselves.
Crop harvesting is also suffering delay as the agricultural sector fails to find enough workforce to carry out the jobs while a strict ban on movement of transport is causing a serious threat of food shortage in many cities.
Farms, still the bedrock of the Indian economy, are heading into their most important harvest time of the year, earning money to finance many villages for months.
Reserve Bank of India governor Shaktikanta Das has called the coronavirus an “invisible assassin” that could wreak havoc on Asia’s third-biggest economy.
The commerce ministry has also reportedly urged the government to consider opening more activities “with reasonable safeguards” even if the lockdown is extended.
The Indian economy was stuttering with a high unemployment rate for decades even before the pandemic. Growth estimates could slump to 1.5-2.0% this year according to analysts.
Modi’s recent announcement came while countries around the world are mulling on how to lift restrictions while ensuring that there is no renewed spike in new infections.
