Coronavirus Update: No plan to extend lockdown beyond April 14, says cabinet secretary

The novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, the pandemic has spread across 177 countries. To curb the spread of the coronavirus in the country Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a 21-day lockdown. Today is the sixth day of India’s 21-day lockdown and the total number of reported COVID-19 cases in India stands at 1,071. Rumours of the lockdown being extended are viral on social media. Today the government has made it clear that there was no plan to extend the 21-day lockdown which came into force on Tuesday midnight, beyond April 14.

The Union Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba dismissing reports that the countrywide COVID-19 lockdown may get extended told ANI, “There are rumours & media reports, claiming that the Government will extend the lockdown when it expires. The Cabinet Secretary has denied these reports, and stated that they are baseless. I am surprised to see such reports, there is no such plan of extending the lockdown.”

Alert : There are rumours & media reports, claiming that the Government will extend the #Lockdown21 when it expires. The Cabinet Secretary has denied these reports, and stated that they are baseless#PIBFactCheck#lockdownindia #coronaupdatesindia #IndiaFightsCorona

— PIB India ?? #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIB_India) March 30, 2020

Following the lockdown, there has been a massive exodus of migrant workers from big cities to their villages after being rendered jobless. The Prime Minister has apologized for the difficulties that the poor, especially migrant workers, have been facing due to the lockdown which was announced 4-hours before it came into effect.

The number of coronavirus cases in India has exceeded 1,100 and the death toll in the country stands at 27. Globally, the number of cases is fast approaching three-quarters of a million, while the death toll has exceeded 33,000.

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