Covid-19 second wave: Is national lockdown inevitable?

India recorded 4,187 new coronavirus deaths in a day for the first time, as more states imposed lockdowns in a desperate bid to halt the devastating new Covid-19 surge. In addition, it added 4,01,078 new cases in 24 hours, bringing the nation’s caseload to nearly 21.9 million.

Health experts, who have expressed doubts about the official death toll, say the new wave may not hit a peak until the end of May, and there have been mounting calls for tough nationwide measures.