PM Modi Live Highlights: COVID-19 India Lockdown Extension

With the 21-day COVID-19 lockdown ending today, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a new update to the nation on April 14, 2020.

In a latest video address to the nation minutes back, Modi said the coronavirus lockdown would continue until May 03, 2020.

While the ongoing strict measures will continue until April 20, 2020, the emergency services will get some relaxation post that.

But the overall lockdown scenario will continue until the first week of May 2020, the PM added.

“Keeping in mind the livelihoods of our poor brothers and sisters, provision of limited relaxations in identified places from 20th April has been made. Daily wagers and those who depend on daily earning are my family,” Modi said.

Commending the public for their 21-day-long support, PM urged them to continue the acts of social distancing and self-isolation to contain the emergence of new COVID-19 hotspots.

Further, the Prime Minister also informed that the country’s preparedness for treating coronavirus patients.

“Country has enough stock of medicines and ration. Hurdles in the supply chain are constantly been addressed. We are also moving forward rapidly in the field of health infrastructure,” he added.

As part of the address, Modi also issued a 7-point guideline, which he termed as ‘Saptapadi’.

PM Modi’s Saptapadi- The 7-point COVID-19 Guideline includes:

1) Special care towards older people

2) Strict following of lockdown ‘Lakshman Rekha’ and social distancing norms

3) Following Ayush Mantralaya guidelines to boost immune power

4) Download and follow ‘Arogya Setu’ app

5) Help and provide food to the needy

6) No corporate firing of employees

7) Respect and support the public health workers, especially doctors

“While the world is struggling to cope up with coronavirus, India has been successful in containing the spread, as compared to other nations,” PM added.

Modi said the next week period will see lockdown measures tightened further.

“If things go as per plan, in some of the areas and districts which have shown no signs of coronavirus and which are not likely to harness coronavirus, lockdown restrictions could be relaxed partially,” Modi added.

“PM has taken correct decision to extend lockdown. Today, India’s position is better than many developed countries because we started lockdown early. If it is stopped now, all gains would be lost. To consolidate, it is imp to extend it,” Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted post Modi’s latest address to the nation.