COVID-19 Lockdown: PM Modi to Address Nation at 10 am on Tuesday
The coronavirus lockdown ends on 15 April.
With the coronavirus lockdown coming to an end on 15 April, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 10 am on Tuesday, 14 April.
The address would come days after he held a meeting with chief ministers of states, wherein there was a 'consensus' to extend the lockdown by another two weeks.
However, this extended lockdown is likely to come with several relaxations for certain sectors, in view of the economic turmoil that the country has endured.
The prime minister had announced a complete national lockdown for 21 days on 24 March, asserting that it is a necessary step to prevent the spread of coronavirus in India. “If we don't follow the nationwide lockdown for 21 days, we will be pushed back by 21 years,” he had said.
As the number of coronavirus cases in India rise, six state governments – those of West Bengal, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana and Punjab – have already announced an extension of the lockdown till 30 April.
The country has recorded 9,152 coronavirus cases so far, with the death toll standing at 308.
'Jaan Hai Toh Jahaan Hai' to 'Jaan Bhi, Jahaan Bhi'
PM Modi, during the meeting with chief ministers via video conferencing, said it was important to save lives as well as livelihoods. "While announcing the lockdown, I had said 'jaan hai toh jahaan hai'... Most people in the country understood it and discharged their responsibilities by remaining indoors. And now it is imperative to focus on both aspects, 'jaan bhi, jahan bhi' (lives as well as livelihoods), for India's bright future, and prosperous and healthy India," Modi had said.
The government in an order last week had also asked all officers of the joint secretary level and above to be present in the ministries along with one-third of the essential staff from Monday. According to sources, the government is also looking into various recommendations and suggestions made by states, experts and other stakeholders, PTI reported.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has recommended that certain identified industries and services should be allowed to resume limited activity with "reasonable safeguards". In a number of recommendations to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the department said these new activities in wide-ranging spheres are essential in any lockdown exit plan to improve the country's economic activity and provide liquidity in the hands of the people.
There is also a suggestion to divide the country into three zones -- red, orange and green (based on the number of COVID-19 cases in those areas), and allow some industrial activity in orange and green areas, where there are no COVID-19 hotspots, while maintaining standard operating procedures of social distancing.
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