Modi Govt 'Thinking' To Extend Coronavirus Lockdown After Requests From States, Health Experts, Say Sources

Will the Narendra Modi government extend the 21 day-lockdown after April 14? Sources say that the answer is likely to be a 'yes'. Amid intense speculations over the post-April 14 scenarios, government sources told News Nation on Tuesday that the Centre is 'thinking' in direction of extending the countrywide coronavirus lockdown that came into effect on March 24 midnight. Sources said that several state governments, as well as many health experts, have already 'requested the Centre to extend the lockdown.' The sources say that 'the Central Government is thinking in this direction.' On March 24 at 12 am, the Narendra Modi government invoked the National Disaster Management Act, 2005 to impose 21-day lockdown across the country in the mega battle to fight coronavirus pandemic. (Coronavirus Live Updates)

The development comes at a time when Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla is chairing a meeting on the strategic issue of the lockdown. On Monday, two major states - Uttar Pradesh and Telangana - had clearly said that they are in favour of the extension of the lockdown. While Uttar Pradesh said that it will not lift the lockdown till a single COVID-19 patient is present in the state, Telangana said that it would request the Centre for an extension.

While there has been no official word from the government but looks like the extension is imminent. Addressing the party workers on the occasion of BJP's foundation day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday had said that everyone should be prepared for a long battle against coronavirus. Earlier there were reports that the Centre wants inputs from the states on the exit plan. Many believe that a staggered, phased policy may be adopted to bring the country out of the total lockdown. Globally, nations are extending the lockdowns to flatten the curve. While Singapore has announced a month-long shutdown, several European nations have also extended the lockdown period.

The prestigious Johns Hopkins University's coronavirus tracker put the global death tally at 74,870. Over 1.3 million people have been infected with COVID-19 disease. Closer home, over four thousand confirmed cases have been reported across India with 114 deaths as of 9 am data by the Union Health Ministry.