Telangana has become India's first state to extend its Covid-19 lockdown to 29 May, beyond the scheduled end date of 17 May, despite having fewer coronavirus cases compared with other areas of the country.
Telangana's low number of cases at just 1,100 puts pressure on the most affected states of Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat — with a combined 31,000 of Covid-19 cases — to step up prevention efforts.
Unlike other countries where a sustained lockdown has resulted in a fall in coronavirus cases, India's 54-day lockdown has led to a surge in infections. The number of confirmed cases in India has surged more than 60-fold to 49,436 as of today from about 800 when the lockdown started on 25 March. Infections have risen by 10,000 over the last three days.
Demand for diesel has dropped by around 57pc, use of gasoline by 61pc and jet fuel by 92pc in April from a year earlier, according to India's state-controlled refiners. There could be a small uptick in consumption next month, but this would still be well below the usual levels.
India's testing rates remain one of the lowest in the world on a per capita basis, with private-sector labs charging 4,500 rupees ($60) for each test. At least three repeated tests are required to confirm a coronavirus infection, but a total cost of $180 is prohibitively expensive for many Indian households living on less than $2/d.
The government is bringing back tens of thousands of Indians stuck abroad without mandatory testing, increasing the risk of transmission when planes and ships reach India. Millions of migrant workers from metros are also now allowed to visit their hometowns, risking the spread of the coronavirus to rural areas.
Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana, is one of India's fastest growing cities and a hub for technology and outsourcing businesses. It is home to technology giants such as Google, Microsoft and Amazon.
