Sri Lanka extends Covid-19 curfew

Sri Lanka on Friday extended a stringent coronavirus curfew for another week after reporting its highest daily death toll of more than 200, report agencies.

While India has asked the states of Kerala and Maharashtra to consider night curfews in areas with high COVID-19 case numbers as the country reported more than 40,000 new infections for two days in a row on Friday.

A nationwide lockdown in Lanka had been due to end Tuesday but Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said it would be extended until September 6.

Sri Lanka's total coronavirus deaths exceeded 8,000 on Thursday and its 412,370 infections make it one of Asia's worst hit countries.

The health experts said in a report, seen by AFP, that extending the lockdown until October 2 could save up to 10,000 lives.

Report from New Delhi adds: Cases fell to a five-month-low of 25,166 in the middle of the month but have risen sharply in the last three days, mainly in Kerala that recently celebrated a big festival during which families typically come together.

India reported 44,658 new COVID-19 infections on Friday, taking the total to 32.6 million, the most in the world after the United States. Deaths rose by 496 to 436,861.