PM hints at staggered lifting of lockdown

In his interaction with floor leaders of political parties on coronavirus outbreak on 8th April, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi stated that the nationwide lockdown will not be lifted in one go on April 14, according to BJD’s Pinaki Misra. Biju Janata Dal leader Pinaki Misra told reporters “Prime Minister Modi made it clear that lockdown is not being lifted and also that the life pre-corona and post-corona will not be same.”

According to sources, the attendees of the meeting were briefed by secretaries of various ministries—health, home and rural development —on the actions taken by the government to tackle COVID-19 and mitigate the hardships arising out of the lockdown. The issue of shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for health workers in the country also cropped up in the discussion. 

In addition, PM Modi has also sought advice from former presidents Pratibha Patil and Pranab Mukherjee, and former prime ministers HD Deve Gowda and Manmohan Singh.

Meanwhile, numerous states have favoured the extension to contain the fast-spreading virus, as the positive cases in the country show no signs of any let up.