India extends virus shutdown

India’s 1.3 billion residents will remain on lockdown until at least May 3, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Monday. The initial three-week restriction began on March 25. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in India has exceeded 10,500, with more than 350 deaths and 1,200 recoveries.

What about other countries? Some European nations have started to ease restrictions as their daily infection rates decline. In Austria, thousands of shops reopened this week but must still ensure customers and workers use social distancing. Spanish authorities allowed employees in manufacturing and construction to return to work. On Tuesday, Italy lifted restrictions on timber companies and bookshops although the national lockdown will last until May 3.

Dig deeper: Read Harvest Prude’s report in The Stew on U.S. efforts to hold China accountable for misinformation on the outbreak.