PM Modi Speech Live: Narendra Modi Extends India Lockdown Till May 3

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that the nationwide lockdown, which was to end today, will be extended further till May 3.

The decision was taken after a meeting with state chief ministers on Saturday. “States and citizens are all in favour to extend the lockdown,” Modi said.

There will be stricter lockdown measures in place till April 20 to curb the spread of Covid-19. However, the districts that show improvement and avoid becoming hotspots may get some relaxation after that.

The prime minister said there has been an economic cost of the lockdown, but that cannot be equated with people’s lives.

Other Highlights:

• India has avoided the worst outcomes due to citizens’ efforts during the lockdown.
• We have sufficient supplies of essential goods and medicines and supply chains are being facilitated.
• Central and state governments are working to facilitate rabi harvest.
• Urge India’s scientists and young to step forward to find a vaccine for coronavirus.

Follow the prime minister’s address to the nation here.

Over the next one week India will impose stricter lockdown conditions, Modi said. Authorities will examine every district till April 20 to see how they fight the virus spread, he said.

“The districts that curtail spread and avoid becoming hotspots might be allowed some lockdown relaxations,” Modi said.

The government issue detailed guidelines regarding this tomorrow. The proposal for easing the lockdown after April 20 is to bring relief to the poor and daily wagers.

India’s nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus has now been extended to May 3, PM Modi announced. The lockdown was scheduled to end today.

“The states and citizens are all in favour to extend the lockdown,” Modi said.

PM Modi said that there was a significant economic cost that India had to pay for enforcing the 21-day lockdown. However, measures like it and social distancing have now helped the country control the rise in cases.

“This does appear to be a costly exercise, but there is no equating that with people’s lives,” Modi.

PM Modi said that the government took quick and decisive actions to try and stop the outbreak as soon as they recognised the problem.

We had started screening at airports even before India had reported its first case, Modi said. India took the big step of a 21-day lockdown when there were only 550 cases in the country, he said.

India citizens’ efforts have helped the country avoid the worst outcomes of the pandemic to quite an extent, Modi said. The troubles borne by people are saving the country, he said.

PM Modi said that India’s attempts to stop the spread of the coronavirus has been successful to some extent. The fight against Covid-19 is proceeding strongly, Modi said.

Covid-19 infections in India topped 10,000 leaving 339 dead. The country has added over 1,000 new cases overnight.

Follow all updates around the outbreak here.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address the nation at 10 a.m. as an extension to the 21-day lockdown, which was to end today, becomes inevitable.

With Covid-19 infections in India growing at an increasingly higher pace and fatalities rising, Modi’s administration was faced with a tough choice of whether or not to extend the lockdown that has upended the domestic economy.

Several chief ministers recommended a two-week extension of the lockdown at their meeting with Modi on Saturday. Soon after the meeting, several chief ministers shared their views on social media regarding the need for additional financial support from the centre, more testing kits and protective gear for healthcare employees , as well as financial assistance for those worst affected by the lockdown.

Besides, some states including Odisha, Punjab, Maharashtra and Telangana have already extended lockdowns in their regions, either across their state or in a graded fashion.

Follow live updates from the prime minister’s address here.