Modi address to nation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 10am on Tuesday. Tuesday is the last day of the 21-day lockdown that was announced to curb the spread of novel coronavirus. It is widely expected Modi will announce that lockdown measures will continue as had been demanded by chief ministers of multiple states as coronavirus cases continue.
However, it is being speculated Modi would refer to measures being taken to restart economic activities, particularly in areas that have had few cases of novel coronavirus. The address is being keenly anticipated as it comes before the start of harvest season in key north Indian states such as Punjab and Haryana.
Curfew in Shillong
The government of Meghalaya has imposed a 48-hour curfew in the Shillong agglomeration area from Tuesday, with exception of essential services, after Meghalaya reported its first coronavirus case. The decision was announced by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Monday.
The first coronavirus patient in Meghalaya is a doctor at the Bethany Hospital in Shillong. The government advised all Meghalaya residents who had visited Bethany hospital on or after March 22 to register themselves with authorities by calling 108. Meghalaya had already extended the lockdown to curb coronavirus until April 30.
Ambedkar Jayanti
The 129th birth anniversary of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, will be observed across the country on Tuesday.
Given the nationwide lockdown, celebrations are expected to be muted this time. The Times of India reported the National Confederation of Dalit and Tribal Organizations made a dedicated page on their website to facilitate tributes to Ambedkar. The page was launched on Monday.
France extends lockdown
French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Monday night that the country will remain in lockdown for one more month, that is, until May 11. France had originally announced a month-long lockdown until April 15 to curb the novel coronavirus. France has been among the countries worst affected by the coronavirus, recording as many as 136,779 cases and 14,967 deaths.
Macron told French citizens the country would start returning to normal by May 11 if people were “civic, responsible and respected the rules” and if number of coronavirus cases continued to drop.
36-hour lockdown in Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced the country would be in a 36-hour lockdown from 5pm (local time) on Tuesday until 5am on Thursday. People are required to stay in their homes, with only stores selling essential products being allowed to open.
Netanyahu asked people to hold "limited family celebrations" during the period, which coincides with the end of the Passover holiday. As of Tuesday, 11,586 Israelis have tested positive for the coronavirus; 116 people have died.
