NEW DELHI: The Indian government has reopened malls and temples in several cities across India despite the country recording a record daily number of new coronavirus infections,
Following a 10-week lockdown, the government has risked lifting some restrictions in a bid to ease the devastating blow to the economy dealt by the coronavirus.
However, the number of new cases rose by 9,983 to 256,611, according to government figures announced on Monday, putting the country of 1.3 billion on course to overtake Britain and Spain among nations with the highest number of infections.
The reported death toll of 7,135 is much lower than reported in other badly-hit countries, but the epidemic is only expected to peak locally in July, according to health experts.
Still, in Delhi, shopping malls, restaurants, temples and mosques were allowed to re-open for the first time since March. Mumbai, which accounts for around a fifth of India´s cases and hospitals have been overrun, was more cautious. Roadside shops were allowed to re-open, but malls, restaurants, and hair salons remained shuttered.
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