COVID-19: Centre likely to extend lockdown post April 14

New Delhi : The Centre is discussing the idea of extending the lockdown further from 21 days, which was supposed to end on April 14. This comes on request of several states and experts, reported Hindustan Times.

Just on Monday, Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao had said he will appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to extend lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus in the country. He cautioned that if the lockdown is lifted, the decision may cost several lives in the nation.

A senior bureaucrat in Punjab has also favoured an extension of the lockdown. On Friday, a minister in Maharashtra, the worst-hit state in the country, also said that the restriction should not end on April 14.

PM Modi has announced a nationwide lockdown on March 24 for 21 days with a motive to break the chain of coronavirus. He had requested people to stay where they are and avoid traveling.

Earlier today, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said the final week of the ongoing lockdown is “critical” for evolving an exit strategy as data regarding the spread of coronavirus will have a bearing on the decision to be taken by the government.

He also appealed to the people to abide by whatever decision is ultimately taken by the government and cooperate with the same spirit that has so far been evident “even if it meant to continue with some degree of hardship still beyond April 14”.

"As today marks the completion of two weeks of nationwide lockdown in force since March 25, I thought it appropriate to reach out to the people and the leadership of the country with my views and concerns amidst current efforts to tide over the crisis caused by the outbreak of coronavirus," Naidu said in a statement.

Staying in lockdown and social distancing is the only way to battle out the coronavirus pandemic according to several experts.