India to extend nationwide lockdown to tackle coronavirus

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to extend a nationwide lockdown for all 1.3 billion citizens for two more weeks, to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The number of coronavirus infections in India rose to 7,447 on Saturday, with the capital city New Delhi and financial hub Mumbai fast emerging as hotspots.

There have been total deaths of 239.

Several states had urged Modi to extend the lockdown, even amid rising concerns that the restrictions have put millions of poor people out of work and forced an exodus of migrant workers from cities to villages.

Indian officials have said widespread virus infections could be disastrous in a country where millions live in slums and the health system is already overburdened.