India has been largely successful in containing the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic within its borders among its vast population of 1.3 billion people. However, over the past few days, lockdown regulations have been gradually easing, leading to increased mobility and as a result, the number of confirmed cases is rising.

The total number of reported cases in India currently lies at around 53,000, which – factoring in their population – is much lower per capita than the United States. Most of the cases occur in the bustling cities of Mumbai and New Dehli.

However, case numbers are now doubling every 9.5 days compared to previously, which was 12 days. The daily death rate has also surpassed 100. Mid-April, this figure lay at a few dozen.

The nation’s lockdown, it was announced, was to be extended for another two weeks on May 1. However, according to a New Delhi shopkeeper, “There’s no police around, nobody is enforcing the lockdown, people are out everywhere.” This also comes amid concerns that police are overwhelmed during Ramadan activities, which ends on May 23.

India’s unemployment rate is now at a record high of 27.1%, according to the Centre for Monitoring the Indian Economy (CMIE), with its economy likely to suffer its worst quarter since the mid-1990s.

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