India's coronavirus epicentre has been plunged into a state-wide weekend lockdown as the country battles exploding infection numbers and shortages of vaccines, drugs and hospital beds. But many states are tightening the screw, in particular Maharashtra and its capital Mumbai, where restaurants are shut and public gatherings of more than five people are banned - which has left the city's streets deserted. Every weekend until the end of April the state's 125 million people are confined to their homes unless shopping for food, medicine or travelling. Its weekend lockdown, that began at 8pm on Friday, will end at 7am on Monday. On Saturday, India reported 145,000 new cases, a new record taking the total to 13.2 million with 170,000 deaths.

Source: The Nation April 10, 2021 08:48 UTC