Coronavirus Lockdown To Be Extended After 21 Days? There Is 'No Such Plan', Says Govt

The government on Monday said there was no plan to extend the 21-day lockdown which came intro force on Tuesday midnight. India is under day six of the lockdown aimed at checking the spread of the coronavirus. People have been asked to stay indoors while only those providing or availing essential services are being allowed outside.

There have been several reports and specualtions that the lockdown may be extended beyond April 14. The total number of COVID-19 positive cases in India crossed 1,000 on Sunday. 

The Press Information Bureau (PIB) of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting tweeted, saying Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba has denied media reports claiming that the government will extend the lockdown. "There are rumours & media reports, claiming that the Government will extend the #Lockdown21 when it expires. The Cabinet Secretary has denied these reports, and stated that they are baseless," it said.

Alert : There are rumours & media reports, claiming that the Government will extend the #Lockdown21 when it expires. The Cabinet Secretary has denied these reports, and stated that they are baseless#PIBFactCheck#lockdownindia #coronaupdatesindia #IndiaFightsCorona

— PIB India #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIB_India) March 30, 2020

Earlier, the Prasar Bharati News Service, India’s public broadcaster, has also said that reports are false. PBNS tweeted that it has got in touch with the Cabinet Secretary and he had expressed surprise and said that there was no such plan. It referred to a report, carrying the headline 'Modi govt could extend coronavirus lockdown by a week as migrant exodus triggers alarm', as fake.

FAKE NEWS ALERT 

PBNS got in touch with the Cabinet Secretary on this news article.

The Cabinet Secretary expressed surprise & said that there is no such plan of extending the lockdown. https://t.co/CrLlp6f7X5

— Prasar Bharati News Services (@PBNS_India) March 30, 2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the 21-day lockdown on March 24.

There has been a massive exodus of migrant workers from big cities to their villages after being rendered jobless due to the lockdown. These migrant workers, who worked as daily wagers in big cities have started journeying towards their native villages. Many of them have been walking to their destination as there is no public transport. Centre has asked all state governments to seal the borders to stop the movement of migrants. State governments have been asked to provide food and shelter to these migrants at wherever they are. (With PTI Inputs)