Punjab Extends Lockdown Till May 1 Amid Significant Rise In Coronavirus Cases

In view of the significant rise in the number of coronavirus cases (COVID-19 cases) in Punjab, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday extended the ongoing lockdown till May 1, reported ANI. The move is to contain the spread of coronavirus in the state. This comes a day after at least 10 new coronavirus cases were reported in Punjab, taking the total count to 101. So far, the death count in the state stands at 8 while 4 have recovered from the infection.

Earlier today, CM Amarinder Singh had said that the decision on whether Punjab will extend the lockdown will be taken at a meeting of the state cabinet later this evening. He also allowed district-wise relief from lockdown only to farmers to allow them for harvesting of Rabi crop.

Quoting a PGIMER study, the chief minister had said that the virus is likely to touch its peak by mid-september and may likely to affect 58 per cent of India's population and 87 per cent of Punjab's and other states' population.

"COVID19 epidemic in India is estimated to reach its peak in mid-September 2020 at a point where 58 per cent of population has been infected," he said quoting the projections made by the Department of Community Medicine in PGIMER in Chandigarh.

The Punjab chief minister also admitted that there has been some community transmission of the virus in the state as there are 27 positive cases from among the Tablighi Jamat congregation attendees in Nizamuddin in Delhi.

With the increase of 547 new COVID-19 cases in the last 12 hours took India’s tally to 6412 on Friday. According to data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the death count in the country stood at 199. So far, 504 people have recovered from the coronavirus pandemic. During the press briefing, the health ministry’s spokesperson asserted that the infection rate from deadly coronavirus in India is not huge and there is no community transmission in the country so far.

Also Read: Coronavirus: No Community Transmission In India So Far, Don't Panic: Health Ministry

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address the nation soon on whether the lockdown will end on Tuesday, April 14. However, before the decision on coronavirus lockdown, PM Modi will hold a high-level meeting chief ministers on Saturday via a video conference. It is to be noted that PM Modi had on March 23 announced a complete lockdown in the country amidst rising cases of coronavirus.

(With PTI Inputs)

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