India announced easing of a stringent lockdown for 1.3 billion people by allowing opening of neighborhood and standalone shops with restrictions such as 50% of workers with face masks and social distancing. A home ministry statement issued late Friday says that shops in single and multi-brand malls would not be allowed to open anywhere in the country.
The relaxation also would not be applicable in hundreds of hotspots and containment zones across the country. India has so far reported more than 18,600 positive new coronavirus cases and 775 deaths.
India imposed a lockdown for its 1.3 billion people on March 25 and it is due to end on May 3. Last week, the government allowed resumption of manufacturing and farming activities in rural areas as millions of daily wage-earners were left without work. — Associated Press.
Japan reports 60 more cases on Italian cruise ship
Japan has confirmed 60 more coronavirus cases among crew members on an Italian cruise ship currently docked in the western Japanese city of Nagasaki for repairs, reported Reuters citing Japanese local news reports.
That brought the total number of cases on the Costa Atlantica to about 150. The ship is carrying 623 crew members and no passengers.
All crew members have been tested, the report said. Japanese authorities had ordered the crew not to venture beyond the quay except for hospital visits, but it discovered this week that some crew members had left without their knowledge. Officials are checking on details of their movements. — Weizhen Tan
@ CNBC