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Coronavirus: India sets up 1,200 ‘containment zones’ as people banned from leaving home |

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India has intensified its fight against the coronavirus by setting up 1,200 “containment zones” in states which have reported more than 100 cases.

The size of the zones varies from apartment complexes, to colonies, and even parts of a district covering many thousands of people

These zones are now under a more severe COVID-19 lockdown, with a complete prohibition of movement of residents out of their homes, or for outsiders to enter.

The zones have been sealed with all entry and exits manned by police and watched over by CCTV and drone cameras 24/7.

Only health and sanitation workers and government officials are allowed inside.

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People in the zones must have food and other essentials delivered to them

For essential items like food, milk and medicines, residents need to call a designated number so the item can be delivered to their doorstep.

Health workers will conduct house-to-house checks and anyone with symptoms will be identified and tested.

If found positive, they will be isolated at home or at a hospital if required.

A mobile app is also used to monitor movements of people in the zones, including those with no symptoms.

Municipal workers spray disinfectants at regular intervals throughout the day.

The national lockdown of 21 days ends on 14 April but a number of state governments have urged the prime minister to extend it.

As India has a federal structure, chief ministers of states could enforce a shutdown of their own indiual states. Punjab and Odisha have extended their lockdown until 30 April.

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Huge numbers of migrant workers have been stranded – here some line up for food in Chennai

The lockdown has created its own complications as hundreds of thousands of migrant workers have been left stranded.

These daily wage earners and contract workers form almost 81% of India’s working population and were left with no work and no earnings.

They desperately tried to get back to their homes and villages by walking hundreds of miles as all road, air and rail transport was shutdown.

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Police have been asking drivers why they need to be out on the roads

The purpose of a lockdown was defeated when thousands were seen walking across the northern states of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi.

Large crowds converged at border points and there was no social distancing, and most didn’t have personal protection.

The prime minister has since apologised and asked for forgiveness for the trouble caused to this labour force.

The government has set up 37,978 camps across various states where over 1.4 million migrants caught up in the lockdown have been proed shelter and food.

India has been criticised for carrying out very few tests and has one of the lowest testing rates in the world.

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In a briefing, health ministry spokesperson Luv Agarwal said: “There is no community transmission, there is no need to panic.”

Over the last 24 hours, 678 new confirmed cases have been detected, taking the number to 6,412 with 199 deaths reported.

Just over 20,000 foreign nationals have been evacuated from India so far.

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