Bhubaneswar, May 6 -- New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: Amid a massive resurgence of COVID-19 cases across the country and following the reports of deaths of lions due to the lethal virus at a zoo in Hyderabad, India's Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has ordered a shutdown of all the national parks and sanctuaries across the country.

Realising the possibilities of COVID spread among the animals in National Parks, Sanctuaries, and other protected areas, and also the possibility of virus transmission from human to animals and vice-versa, the Ministry has taken such a crucial step.

All states and UTs have been directed to follow the directive of the Ministry without a fail.

The Ministry has released an advisory to the Chief Wild L...