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India’s nationwide coronavirus lockdown, the biggest in the world, will be extended for two more weeks, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced on May 1.

The Minsitry issued the order under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, to further extend the lockdown for a further period of two weeks beyond May 4.

The three-week lockdown started on March 25, and was scheduled to end on May 3.
All districts in the country have been divided into green, orange and red zones.

State/UTs and district administration, through focused efforts, are required to ensure that the districts where cases are reported, such as red and orange zones, can break the chain of transmission through effective and stringent containment measures.

The ministry said a limited number of activities will remain prohibited across India, irrespective of the zone, including travel by air, rail, metro and inter-State movement by road. Schools, colleges and other educational and training/coaching institutions will also remain closed.

Indian authorities are trying to chart a path out of the world’s biggest lockdown, imposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 25, which they credit with preventing an exponential surge in coronavirus infections.