Slum children receive chocolate cookies and soap from a volunteer (R) of a NGO after the goverment eased a nationwide lockdown in New Delhi on Saturday. AFP

India extended its coronavirus lockdown until June 30 in high-risk zones but permitted restaurants, malls and religious buildings to reopen elsewhere from June 8 despite a record high number of cases detected nationwide on Saturday.

The home ministry ordered state governments and local authorities to identify "containment zones", or areas that should remain under lockdown, as they continue to report high number of infections.

A home ministry order said that places of religious worship, hotels, restaurants and shopping malls "will be allowed" to operate from June 8, while educational establishments will be opened "after consultations" with state authorities.

Applicable from Monday, June 1, the fresh order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) spoke of the expanded fresh guidelines a day ahead of the end of lockdown 4.0.

"In exercise of powers under section 6 (2) (i) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) it has directed the undersigned to issue an order to extend the lockdown in containment zones up to June 30, and reopen prohibited activities in a phased manner in areas outside containment zones," the order says.

Therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred under section 10 (2)(l) of the Disaster Management Act 2005, it is directed that the guidelines will remain in force up to June 30. Authorities have also shortened the night curfew timings.

Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi is due to address the nation in a radio broadcast on Sunday, when he is expected to lay down fresh guidelines after 65 days of lockdown.
In an open letter marking one year into his second term, Modi urged people to follow lockdown rules to stop the spread of the pandemic as there was a "long battle" ahead.

As per an order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the night curfew will be imposed between 9:00pm and 5:00am, instead of the present timing of 7:00pm to 7:00am.

"Night curfew movement of individuals shall remain strictly prohibited between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. throughout the country, except for essential activities," the MHA said in its order.

The local authorities, it said, will issue orders in the entire area in their jurisdiction under the appropriate provisions of law.

The nationwide lockdown was imposed on March 25 with the announcement of the restrictions by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. The lockdown was extended thrice earlier.

The announcement came even after the world's second-most populous country announced another record daily rise in infections, taking the total to more than 85,000 cases with almost 5,000 deaths.

Agencies