Lockdown likely to be extended in India

India may extend the ongoing national lockdown by 15 days. The final decision on extending the 21-day lockdown that is set to end on 14 April will be taken after a meeting with all chief ministers on 11 April. Prime Minister Modi indicated to legislature party leaders that the lockdown may have to stay in place beyond April 14 given the state of the battle against the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

“I have been speaking to chief ministers and district collectors… the common refrain is that it is not easy to lift the lockdown,” the prime minister said. “We need to be strict in implementing social distancing norms. So be it lifting or extending the lockdown, the general mood is that it will not be possible to lift the lockdown at once.”

Pinaki Misra, member of Parliament from Odisha’s Biju Janata Dal (BJD), said “The prime minister said it may not be possible to lift the lockdown on 15 April, going by the feedback that he is getting from across the country. He will discuss with the chief ministers and thereafter may take a call as to by how many days the lockdown can be extended," 

Narendra Modi has called another meeting of all chief ministers on April 11 for consultations, after which the Centre could take a final decision on the lockdown.

The government was contemplating extending the lockdown until the end of April, given the rise in infections. Modi said on Wednesday that the situation was changing every hour & most countries were enforcing lockdowns and social distancing as to contain the spread.