
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a reduction in local lockdowns in order to help the wider economy during an online meeting with state leaders on Wednesday.
In India, state governments are empowered to go beyond the restrictions issued by the federal government and as cases have continued to stack up across various parts of the country, chief ministers have announced partial lockdowns.
Local police in the city of Mumbai announced a partial lockdown last week, with movement in containment zones -- sections of the city identified as coronavirus hotspots -- prohibited except for essential activities.
Modi asked state chief ministers to reconsider state or city lockdowns, which are hampering economic activity.
“We should focus on micro-containment zones which will help in reducing the spread of coronavirus and allow life and activity to continue normally," he said. "These one- to two-day-long local lockdowns and their effectiveness should be surveyed by each state. It should not hamper the restarting of economic activity in your states."
India has recorded over 5.7 million Covid-19 cases, including 91,149 deaths since the start of the pandemic, the worst-hit country after the United States.