The Indian government on Saturday, announced a major relaxation of the world's biggest lockdown, amid the ongoing global COVID19 pandemic, starting from early June.
Areas dubbed "containment zones", which have high numbers of infections, are not privy to this easing of restrictions. According to the Indian Express, lockdown for these zones are extended until June 30.
However, states are granted the freedom to keep areas closed or put suitable restrictions if they deem such precautions necessary, stated the new guidelines issued by India's Ministry of Home Affairs.
A home ministry order said that as part of its first phase to lifting the lockdown, places of religious worship, hotels, restaurants and shopping malls "will be allowed" to operate from June 8.
In the second phase, classes in schools, colleges, and other educational institutions would resume "after consultation" with Indian state authorities.
The third phase will see the opening of cinema halls, gymnasiums and resumption of international flights, apart from other activities, various functions and large congregations.
The announcement came even after the world's second-most populous country announced another record daily rise with 8000 confirmed cases.
At present, India records 1,73,763 confirmed cases, 82,369 recoveries and 4,971 deaths.
WHO has classified the spread of COVID-19 as a global pandemic. The new strain of novel coronavirus has infected over 6 million people and claimed over 367, 000 lives around the world. However, out of those infected, 2.6 million people have recovered.