Rising cases complicate India’s curb lifting efforts

India was nearing 30,000 coronavirus infections yesterday, second only to China in Asia, a steady rise that would make it difficult to lift a nearly six-week lockdown that ends this weekend, officials said.

Neighbouring Pakistan also recorded a jump in cases and deaths from COVID-10, the respiratory disease caused by the virus, and there were concerns that many people were gathering in mosques for Ramadan prayers despite strict rules on distancing.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has allowed some farm and industrial activity to resume in less-affected rural areas after the shutdown of the economy left millions without work and short of food and shelter.

But with about 1,500 new cases each day on an average over the past week, the government is facing calls not to ease further and instead keep the world's biggest shutdown in force beyond May 3, even though the economic distress is deepening. The number of people infected with the coronavirus stood at 29,434, the health ministry said, a rise of 1,543 over the previous day. So far 934 people have died.

Pakistan had 14,079 cases including 301 deaths, 20 of them over the past day the highest single-day toll so far. Pakistan has opened 600 export industries, mainly in Punjab and Sindh province, to reduce the pain for businesses and workers.

Pakistan, under pressure from religious groups, allowed people to pray at mosques during the holy fasting month that began last week provided they kept six feet apart, wore face masks and did not pray in the streets. But an NGO said the rules were largely violated in the 194 mosques it surveyed in 15 cities and towns.