14-day extension of lockdown likely

In four-hour video-conference with Chief Ministers, PM hints at resumption of economic activity

12/04/2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi indicated on Saturday, after a marathon four-hour video-conference with Chief Ministers, that the country could see a 14-day extension of the COVID-19 containment lockdown as that was the common demand of a large number of States, including West Bengal. The Central government will announce guidelines for the same in the next couple of days.

Remarks by Mr. Modi at the meeting, however, also indicated the possibility that some economic activity may be resumed in the extended lockdown period.

“For the last two weeks or more, people have shown great discipline and stayed indoors and tried to follow social distancing since, as we say jaan hai jahan hai [the world is for who is alive], now we must also say jaan bhi jahan bhi [for both life and world],” a statement from the PMO quoted the Prime Minister as saying.

Farming operations

Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanswamy, after the meeting, said Mr. Modi felt farm activity should continue, and said guidelines for the construction industry would be issued by the Centre in a phased manner.

The lockdown was formally announced from March 25thto April 14 (21 days) but the trajectory of COVID-19 cases has led most State governments to recommend an extension. Mr. Modi, government sources said, was considering the request favourably. Sources said a formal announcement would be made after the weekend.

“Most States requested Prime Minister Modi to extend the lockdown for two more weeks,” said government sources.

Punjab, Telangana, Odisha, Maharashtra and Karnataka have already declared an extension till the end of the month, and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal pre-empted a formal announcement by the Prime Minister by taking to Twitter and offering unstinted support to the decision.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, in his intervention at the video conference, said activity within districts unaffected by COVID-19 should be allowed to restart, albeit with sealed borders between districts and States very much in place and no train and air connectivity.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy suggested that zones within districts be colour coded, and only the red zones undergo a containment lockdown.