Considering the rise in the number of COVID-19 cases to a total of 5194, and 149 deaths, various chief ministers have raised concerns about the duration of the lockdown period.
Chief Minister of Telangana, Chandrashekar Rao, in a statement, requested the Prime Minister for the extension of the lockdown period.
“I am appealing to the Prime Minister and Government of India to extend lockdown without hesitation. Lockdown is the only weapon we have to control the spread of this disease and avoid a situation which countries like the US, Spain and Italy are facing,” he said at a news conference.
The Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot and Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan have also agreed on the extension of lockdown if needed.
In an earlier meeting with the Chief Minister of various states, Prime Minister had asked them to think on an “exit strategy” to end the lockdown in a phased manner. Soon after the meeting, Chief Minister of Maharashtra tweeted, “The Prime Minister said that the State Government should not lift the lockdown immediately from April 15 but it should happen in phases. Precautions should be taken that there is no crowding.”
However, in the light of rising cases and requests for extending the shutdown, the central government is now considering its decision. Since there is no vaccine yet available, the only option to fight the pandemic is social distancing, and therefore, an extension of lockdown is highly likely to happen.