India will extend its lockdown for two weeks as the fight to stop the spread of COVID-19 continues, a top official says.

Delhi's chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had agreed to extend the current lockdown beyond the Tuesday end date.

The decision comes after Modi held a video conference with state ministers, many of whom are reported to have supported an extension.

India, the second most populous nation, has recorded nearly 8,000 COVID-19 cases with 249 deaths, according to US-based Johns Hopkins University, which is tracking the disease globally. 774 patients in the country have successfully recovered.

Kejriwal said on Twitter: "PM has taken correct decision to extend lockdown. Today, India’s position is better than many developed countries because we started lockdown early. If it is stopped now, all gains would be lost. To consolidate, it is imp to extend it."

(With input from BBC)