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

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.