India declares 21-day 'total lockdown' as coronavirus cases rise

India's 1.3 billion people will go under "total lockdown" for 21 days to combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, warning that anyone going outside risked inviting the virus inside their homes, and pledging $2bn to bolster the country's beleaguered healthcare system.

"From 12 midnight today [1830 GMT Tuesday], the entire country will be in lockdown, total lockdown," Modi said on Tuesday in a televised address, his second in a week.