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India Opens Public Places as Pandemic Rages

Anjana Pasricha

   NEW DELHI - India signaled that it is ready for business as shopping
   malls, religious places and offices reopened in most places Monday amid
   the COVID-19 pandemic.

   The world's second most populous country is now the fifth most affected
   nation and health experts have warned that new infections will continue
   to ravage the country for weeks.

   Even as they reopened, the worst-affected Indian cities took extra
   precautions amid fears that their health infrastructure can no longer
   cope with the daily spike in new infections.

   In the capital New Delhi, authorities said hotels will continue to
   remain shut in case they have to be converted into temporary hospitals.
   "Our cases are rising each day; we could run out of beds," Delhi Chief
   Minister Arvind Kejriwal said.

   Mumbai was even more cautious -- it kept shopping malls shut and
   allowed offices to reopen with only ten percent staff. Although
   authorities put buses back on streets, train services, the city's
   lifeline, are still suspended.

   Strict new rules in public places include temperature screening,
   wearing masks and maintaining a distance of at least two meters.

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