India extends lockdown until May 3 as coronavirus cases cross 10,000

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India on Tuesday extended until May 3 a nationwide lockdown as the number of coronavirus cases crossed 10,000 despite a three-week shutdown. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a televised address to the nation, said the challenge was to stop the virus from spreading to new parts of the country, but held out hope that some restrictions could be eased next week in the least-affected areas to allow essential activities. “Till May 3, every Indian will have to stay in lockdown. I request all Indians that we stop the coronavirus from spreading to other areas,” he said. Modi spoke as latest government data showed the number of people infected with coronavirus had reached 10,541, with 358 deaths. Though the numbers are small compared with hard-hit western nations, like the United States, Italy and Spain, health experts fear that is because of India’s low levels of testing, and actual levels of infection could be far higher. Modi offered no immediate relief to the millions of people who have lost their jobs because of the shutdown, but said he felt their pain, with poor families struggling to afford food, and many migrant workers unable to reach their villages. The World Bank has said economic growth in India and other South Asian countries is likely to be the slowest for four decades this year because of the coronavirus outbreak.