Modi warns Indians against ‘negligence’ while extending vast food scheme to offset coronavirus
- India on Wednesday enters what Modi has called ‘Unlock 2.0’, with many curbs on movement to be relaxed, although some cities are nervous
- More than 16,000 people have died in India, although experts fear its hospitals will be unable to cope with a steep rise in infections
India’s prime minister on Tuesday 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 spread of the infection on Tuesday, with daily new cases in the country remaining close to 20,000.
Under pressure for leaving the poor to fend for themselves early in a stringent lockdown that began in March, Modi also announced the extension of a scheme providing free food grains to 800 million Indians, at a cost of about US$12 billion.
The opposition Congress Party, 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 24 hours, according to federal health data released on Tuesday, down slightly from Sunday’s record of 19,906.
With more than 550,000 total infections, India trails only the United States, Brazil and Russia in total cases.
