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Covid-19

Lockdowns and curfew extensions in India: Punjab, Odisha, Mumbai...

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to spread in all corners of the world, certain Indian states are looking to extend lockdown as a preventative measure.

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Municipal workers wearing facemasks travel at the back of a vehicle during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Mumbai on April 9, 2020. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP)
PUNIT PARANJPEAFP

At the time of writing, there have been 5,916 confirmed coronavirus cases and 178 deaths in India with 506 individuals having made a full recovery after contracting the Covid-19 virus according to official figures.

As the pandemic spreads on a global level, several Indian states are looking at a series of preventative measures to stem the extending of the virus.

Odisha extends

Odisha became the first state in India to confirm an extension of lockdown with the measure now being implemented through to 30 April with schools remaining closed through to mid June.

Confirming the steps today (Thursday) chief minister Naveen Patnaik claimed: "At this crucial juncture one has to decide between protecting lives of people and economic activity. The state cabinet, which met today, decided that saving the lives of our people is the topmost priority at this juncture". Odisha state is home to more than 45 million people.

 Punjab waits

Chief Minister of Punjab, Amarinder Singh claimed late on Wednesday said the state government,  has not yet taken a call on extending the curfew beyond April 14 and any decision on it will taken after the cabinet meeting on Friday April 10th. The state is home to a population of more than 27 million people.

 Mumbai

India's financial capital and home to over 24 million people Mumbai has become India’s coronavirus epicentre. The metropolis and its suburbs have reported 782 positive cases and 50 deaths, the latest health bulletin claimed on Wednesday.

“In Mumbai cases are rising too fast. In just 24 hours 100 cases were reported on Tuesday,” said a senior state government official, adding that the trend was alarming and an extension of the lockdown for at least another two weeks was necessary to stop the virus from spreading in one of the world’s most densely populated cities.

A staff member walks past a notice board inside the premises of Wockhardt Hospital, after it was declared a containment zone as some of its medical staff tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Mumbai, India, April 4, 2020. Picture take
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A staff member walks past a notice board inside the premises of Wockhardt Hospital, after it was declared a containment zone as some of its medical staff tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Mumbai, India, April 4, 2020. Picture takeFRANCIS MASCARENHASREUTERS

The current lockdown period is set to expire on 14 April, but the general consensus is that this date will be extended as the city grapples with the spread of the virus.

“At this crucial juncture one has to decide between protecting lives of people and economic activity. The state cabinet, which met today, decided that saving the lives of our people is the topmost priority at this juncture,” chief minister Naveen Patnaik said at a briefing on Thursday.

 

 

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