India's Chennai to reimpose lockdown as coronavirus cases surge

A lockdown will be reimposed Friday on some 15 million people in the Indian city of Chennai and several neighbouring districts, state officials said, as coronavirus cases surge in the region. Home to 1.3 billion people, India has been gradually lifting a nationwide lockdown in a bid to get the economy back on track. But new infections have still been rising across the country -- particularly in Chennai, capital of Tamil Nadu. 'Full Lockdown from 19th for Chennai, Thiruvallur, Chengalpet & Kanchipuram districts,' the Tamil Nadu state government tweeted Monday. It will be in place until the end of June.