Home ›› 14 Apr 2020 ›› World Biz
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi extended the current nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of novel coronavirus till May 3.
He added that any decision on easing restrictions in parts of the country during this lockdown would be taken after April 20. Such decisions would be made keeping in mind the difficulties faced by the country's poorest population.
'After taking into account all suggestions, we have decided to extend the lockdown till May 3,' PM Modi said in his 25-minute address shortly after India surpassed the 10,000-mark in confirmed coronavirus infection cases.
'Till April 20, each district, each state will be monitored closely to see whether the lockdown is being followed. Then we can decide on relaxing the restrictions,' said the Indian Prime Minister.
Some essential activities would be allowed in areas which showed improvement after April 20, he added.
'We absolutely must ensure that this virus does not spread to any further parts of the country. We should be worried every time we hear that someone in some part of the country has died of the virus. We must ensure that new hotspots do not spring up.'
The latest data from the Union Health Ministry of India shows that there have been 339 coronavirus deaths accross the country.
Modi said India was in much better shape than many major countries in the fight against COVID-19. 'If the country had not taken a holistic, integrated approach and had not acted fast, then it is frightening to think what the situation would have been today,' he further said.
(Source: NDTV)
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