Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 10am on Tuesday, the last day of 21-day nationwide coronavirus lockdown, amid indications that the shutdown could be extended by another two weeks with certain relaxations to boost economic activities.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nationat 10am on 14th April 2020,” the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted.
With most states favouring the lockdown to be extended atleast by two weeks beyond April 14, the government is broadly focusing on atwo-pronged action plan —-containing the spread of COVID-19 in the country and staggeredresumption of economic activities, according to an official.
An indication that while the lockdown maybe extended toensure social distancing, some relaxations would be made to push economic activitiesalso came from the prime minister, who during a meeting with chief ministers onSaturday via video conferencing, said it was important to save lives as well aslivelihoods.
“While announcingthe lockdown, I had said ‘jaan hai to jahan hai’ (health is wealth)… Mostpeople in the country understood it and discharged their responsibilities byremaining indoors. And now it is imperative to focus on both aspects, ‘Jaanbhi, jahan bhi’ ((lives as well as livelihoods), for India’s bright future, andprosperous and healthy India,” Modi had said.
At least seven states —Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, West Bengal, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana–have already announced extension of the lockdown till April 30.
According to the Union Health Ministry’s latest update, theCOVID-19 death toll has risen to 308 and the number of confirmed cases climbedto 9,152 in the country, which is under the nationwide lockdown since March 25.
Meanwhile, several Union ministers resumed work from theirrespective offices from Monday as part of government’s plan to revive economicactivities.
The government in an order last week had also asked allofficers of the joint secretary level and above to be present in the ministriesalong with one-third of the essential staff from Monday.
According to sources, the government is also looking intovarious recommendations and suggestions made by states, experts and otherstakeholders.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade(DPIIT) has recommended that certain identified industries and services shouldbe allowed to resume limited activity with “reasonable safeguards”.
In a number of recommendations to the Ministry of HomeAffairs(MHA), the department said these new activities in wide-ranging spheresare essential in any lockdown exit plan to improve the country’s economicactivity and provide liquidity in the hands of the people.
There is also a suggestion to divide the country into threezones — red, orange and green – based on the number of COVID-19 cases in thoseareas, and allow some industrial activity in orange and green areas, wherethere are no COVID-19 hotspots, while maintaining standard operating proceduresof social distancing.
All inter-state public transport, including buses, trains,has been stopped. There is also a ban on domestic and international air travelto prevent the spread of the virus.
Last month, the prime minister had addressed the nation twice — on March 19 and March 24.