India Eases Curbs As New Cases Dip To 2-Month Low

UAE reports 1,837 new cases, 4 deaths; Etihad extends suspension of flights from Pak, Bangladesh and Nepal till July 7; England delays virus reopening for four weeks; virus quicker than vaccines, WHO warns after G7 pledges.

NEW DELHI

Many Indian states eased coronavirus restrictions on Monday including the capital Delhi, where authorities allowed all shops and malls to open, as the number of new infections dropped to the lowest in more than two months.

Infections peaked in India in May with about 400,000 new cases a day but that dropped to 70,421 new infections reported on Monday, the lowest daily increase since March 31, health ministry data showed.

The number of deaths went up by 3,921, the data showed.

Authorities in Delhi allowed all shops and malls to re-open although bars, gyms, salons, cinemas, and parks remained shut.

City chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that markets and restaurants would be carefully watched this week.

“If we see coronavirus cases are going up, we will have to reimpose strict restrictions,” Kejriwal said in a televised address on Sunday.

In the southern state of Tamil Nadu, known for automobile manufacturing, some businesses were allowed to bring back 50% of employees, and salons and liquor shops re-opened. Bus services remained suspended until June 21.