Do not just extend lockdown, make better use of it: Centre

New Delhi : The extension of lockdown must not remain just on paper; instead it should be utilized properly to improve things, the Centre told three eastern states - Bihar, Assam, West Bengal. All the three states are under extended lockdown period but the implementation of these are still a matter of question.

In a video conference held recently, the Centre asked the representatives of these three states to focus more on a three-pronged strategy: containment, monitoring, bettering the healthcare facilities, a report of The Indian Express said.

West Bengal has once again extended lockdown in the containment zones in Kolkata, Jalpaiguri, Malda, Cooch Behar, Raiganj and Siliguri.

Bihar is under complete lockdown from July 16 to July 31. But the number of cases is only rising with experts fearing that it may become a new hotspot of COVID-19 cases.

The Assam government is also reimposing fresh lockdowns in the districts. It is also facing the double challenge of COVID and floods. Assam crossed the 20,000 mark with 892 new COVID-19 cases and the death toll due to the infection reached 50 with two deaths on Thursday.

The Centre asked what the benefit of these lockdowns is if new cases continue to rise from the spots outside the containment zones.

There have been reports of people breaking out of isolation places amid complaints that they were not provided with proper food and water.