India extends lockdown for another two weeks

The nationwide lockdown in India has been extended by two weeks beyond May 4 in a bid to contain the continued spread of COVID-19.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has also issued new guidelines to regulate different activities during this period, based on the risk profiling of the country's districts that have been divided into red (hotspot), green and orange zones.

As per the latest guidelines, there will be considerable relaxations in the districts falling in the green and orange zones.

However, a limited number of activities will remain prohibited, irrespective of the zone.

Travel by air, rail, metro and inter-state movement by road will remain banned, while educational institutions, hospitality services, cinemas, malls and gyms will also stay shut.

India's death toll due to the pandemic has risen to 1,152, with a total of 35,365 cases across the country.

A 21-day lockdown was initially announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24, and it was later extended to May 3.