India's Modi warns of COVID-19 'negligence' seeing as some cities extend lockdowns
01 July, 2020
India's primary minister on Tuesday (Jun 30) warned citizens against flouting rules to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, as he extended a vast social security scheme until November.
Several Indian cities prepared to extend their lockdowns to combat the pass on of the infection on Tuesday, with daily brand-new cases in the country remaining near 20,000.
"Since (easing of restrictions) were only available in the country, negligence in personal and sociable behaviour possesses been increasing," Primary Minister Narendra Modi stated in a good televised address, adding residents were ignoring guidelines about social distancing and hand washing.
Under great pressure for leaving the indegent to fend for themselves early on in a stringent lockdown that commenced in March, Modi also announced the expansion of a scheme providing free food grains to 800 million Indians, at a cost of around US$12 billion.
The opposition Congress Get together, led by Rahul Gandhi, said the measures were inadequate, calling for direct cash transfers to the poorest in the country.
India reported 18,522 new cases over the previous a day, according to federal wellbeing info released on Tuesday, straight down slightly from Sunday's record of 19,906.
With more than 550,000 total infections, India lags only america, Brazil and Russia altogether cases.
A lot more than 16,000 persons have died in India - a low figure in comparison to countries with similar numbers of cases - though experts fear its hospitals will struggle to cope with a steep rise in infections.
CURBS CONTINUE
India on Wednesday enters what Modi has called "Unlock 2.0", with various curbs on movement relaxed, though schools, cinemas, gyms and bars will remain shut. However, many claims have imposed their private lockdowns in places with significant outbreaks.
The northeastern state of Assam, where authorities are fighting the impact of floods that forced greater than a million persons from their homes, ordered a stringent two-week lockdown in the key city of Guwahati to deal with the coronavirus.
"We happen to be witnessing a spike in localized infections," the state's health minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, told Reuters.
"There were about 175 positive conditions reported on Monday sole in Guwahati, which is a subject of serious concern."
Tamil Nadu express extended a rigid lockdown for its capital Chennai by five days and nights. It also released a closure of meat shops because of what officials said were large crowds gathering there.
"It is a ridiculous approach since meat is vital, along with vegetables and drugs," said Prasanna Kumar, 30, a metropolis IT employee.
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