Areas That’ll Contain COVID-19 Spread To Be Given Conditioned Relief From 20 April; Guidelines Tomorrow: PM Modi

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the extension of the ongoing nationwide lockdown till 3 May, he also said some important activities might be allowed from 20 April in the regions where new hotspots are not identified.

While addressing the nation on Tuesday (14 April), he said the government will closely monitor all districts, towns, and localities in the country and see if they are implementing the lockdown norms strictly. Based on their success in that and ensuring that they do not have new COVID-19 hotspots emerging, the decision of providing some relief will be taken with certain conditions, said the PM.

The nationwide lockdown has been in place since 12:00am, 24 March to continue India’s fight with the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The PM informed that the government will release detailed guidelines tomorrow (14 April) with regards to easing out the lockdown norms in these regions.

“The provisions of this limited relief have been made keeping the poor and daily wage workers and their interests in mind,” he said, while also saying, “they are my extended family.”

“Harvesting of Rabi crops is also underway. Central government and state governments are working together to ensure that farmers face minimal problems,” PM Modi said.

However, in a clear message to the people, the PM said people will be given permissions on conditions, and if broken and cases of coronavirus increase in a region, all the movement permissions will be revoked.

PM Modi while announcing the extension of the nationwide lockdown appealed to citizens to continue following all regulations with discipline.

He also said that he had held extensive discussions with the states and experts over the nations’s strategy in tackling the pandemic and the most recommended option was a lockdown extension.