Indian authorities are easing a six-week lockdown imposed to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Officials in India’s capital, New Delhi, have imposed a special tax of 70% on retail liquor purchases. They are hoping this will prevent large crowds at stores.

The Delhi state government announced the “special corona fee” in a public notice, after hundreds of people had flocked to liquor shops when they opened on Monday, in a relaxation of the world’s biggest lockdown, which is set to run until May 17. Other states also had had to hike up liquor prices to prevent stores being stormed. Customers were baton charged by police.

India reported 3,900 new infections on Tuesday in its highest single day rise. Health experts said the regular upsurge shows India remains at risk even with the severe lockdown in effect. 1.3 billion people have been confined to their homes since late March. All public transport has also come to a standstill, with economic activity almost entirely frozen.

Government officials, however, said the lockdown helped avoid a wave of infections that could have swamped medical services.

Umm Muhammed Umar