400 Million on Lockdown in India Due to Coronavirus

After an all-day curfew was observed by the entire nation Sunday, millions of Indians are remaining on lockdown because of the global coronavirus pandemic. According to Johns Hopkins University, India had recorded 425 cases as of Monday, but since the country has tested fewer people for the COVID-19 virus than others, it is unclear how reliable these numbers are and what challenges India will be up against as the disease continues its global march.

Bihar is placing most people on lockdown – more than 104 million in the entire state – despite having recorded only 2 coronavirus cases so far. Rajasthan is under a state-wide lockdown as well, which affects more than 68 million people. Punjab, Chandigarh and Delhi have also quarantined everybody in their jurisdictions, while 17 more states and union territories have imposed lockdowns on parts of their populations.

Most cases of the virus were recorded Maharashtra (64) and Kerala (52), where the districts affected have been placed on lockdown. All in all, Down To Earth Magazine estimates that more than 427 million people in India are affected by the restrictions, making the lockdown the biggest of the pandemic that is currently ongoing. Around 760 million people In China were affected by lockdowns there during the worst of the outbreak, while Italy currently is restricting the movement of 60 million people.