COVID-19… Mumbai in Lockdown as Indian Vaccines Run Short

India's most coronavirus-hit state Maharashtra imposed a weekend lockdown on Saturday as the country suffers high infection numbers and vaccine shortages.

India recorded 145,384 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday and deaths rose by 794 to a total of 168,436, health ministry data showed.

The world's second-most populous nation has added more than a million new infections since late March due to the mass religious festivals, political rallies and spectators at cricket matches.

The last-year lockdown caused widespread misery and hit the economy; hence, the central government is desperate to avoid a hugely unpopular second shutdown.

Nonetheless, many states are tightening the screw, in particular Maharashtra and its capital Mumbai, where restaurants are completely shut and public gatherings of more than five people are banned.

Citizens are confined to their homes unless shopping for food, medicine or travelling, every weekend from Saturday until the end of April.

"I'm not for the lockdown at all but I don't think the government has any other choice," media professional Neha Tyagi, 27, told AFP in Mumbai. "This lockdown could have been totally avoided if people would take the virus seriously."

In the same vein, New Zealand imposed a temporary suspension on entry of travelers from India due to the recent surge in COVID-19 infections from April 11, government officials announced on Thursday.

Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern made the announcement during a briefing in Auckland, noting that the suspension will be in force from 4 pm on April 11 till April 28.

Ardern added that the travel ban will apply to all citizens and residents of New Zealand, affirming that the suspension is temporary as the government is obligated “to allow citizens to return to New Zealand.”