India's industrial hub of Maharashtra state has eased Covid-19 restrictions in most districts including the financial capital of Mumbai, after a steady decline in new cases, Reuters reports.

Shops, malls and parks were allowed to open for longer and offices were allowed to operate at full capacity. However, cinemas, schools and places of worship will remain closed, according to a state government notice late on Monday.

India has reported 30,549 new cases of the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, the government said in a statement, the lowest in two weeks, but many health experts are wary about new surges with the vaccination rate still low.

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