Lock down to be extended till May 3; conditional relaxation after April 20: PM

April 14, 2020

New Delhi: The lock down enforced on March 24 for fighting corona pandemic has been extended till May 3, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced here on Tuesday.

However, the Government will give some relaxation after April 20 in the areas which perform well in fighting corona, after evaluation of the situation in different parts of the country, and for this detailed guidelines will be issued tomorrow, the Prime Minister said in an address to the nation.

”After discussing the issue with all states and taking their inputs into consideration, it has been decided to extended the existing lock down till May 3,” he said, while appealing to the people to show more patience in their individual interest and the country’s interest as a whole.

”I know the lock down has a big economic cost, but the life of Indians are more precious than anything else, ” he said.

The Prime Minister admitted that the lock down had led to severe difficulties for thousands of people, especially the poor, but said these steps were a must to contain the spread the virus.

He said some more essential activities with strict conditions will be allowed in those areas where cases of corona virus are negligible so that the poor, especially the daily wagers and labourers, could earn their living, but the relaxation will be withdrawn if any area was found violating the lock down norms.

For one week till April 20, there will be very strict enforcement of lock down and very close monitoring of the situation, following which decision regarding relaxation will be taken.

The Prime Minister said India was much better than other countries of the world in its fight against corona, having 25 per cent less cases one month ago, and this was due to the timely steps taken by the Government.

He also said there were sufficient stock of food grains and medicines in the country.

–India News Stream