The coronavirus hotspots in the country are likely to continue under lockdown after May 3, it has emerged after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's video conference with chief ministers of various states on Monday. The lockdown will continue in districts affected with the coronavirus post May 3 and restrictions will be lifted in areas with zero cases, the PM reportedly informed the states during the virtual meeting.
Nine chief ministers—of Meghalaya, Mizoram, Puducherry, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, Gujarat, and Haryana—got the opportunity to speak in the meeting. The states comparatively less affected by COVID-19 wanted some restrictions to be eased so that more economic activities could be revived.
Meghalaya has informed that it would continue with the shutdown post May 3 with relaxations in 'green zones' or non-COVID affected districts. "At the video conference called by the hon’ble PM Modiji and hon’ble Home Minister Shahji. We have mooted to continue with the lockdown post May 3rd with relaxation on activities in Green Zones or non-COVID affected districts in Meghalaya," tweeted Mehgalaya CM Conrad Sangma after the meeting.
According to an NDTV report, five of the nine chief ministers wanted the lockdown to end, while the rest were in favour of extending it for the sake of controlling the spread of COVID-19.
However, all the states wanted to continue the restrictions on inter-state transportation as well as air and railway transport, indicating that the ban on such travel would continue post May 3. In addition, restrictions on public transport are also likely to continue. Schools and colleges are likely to stay shut and the ban on religious meetings and congregations will also continue.
The prime minister has asked all states to prepare their plan on exiting the lockdown by demarcating districts as red, green and orange based on the level of infection, various media reports cited. Economic activities are likely to reopen in green and orange zones, but any commercial activity will be allowed to restart only with social distancing rules and masks.
Reportedly, various states also pressed for a financial package from the Centre. However, PM Modi assured the chief ministers that the state of the economy was still in good shape and there was no need to panic about it.
This was Modi's fourth such interaction with state chief ministers since March 22 when he first spoke to them on the coronavirus situation and steps taken--both by the Centre and the states--to contain the pandemic. Two days later on March 24, Modi announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown. He extended the lockdown till May 3 on April 14, the last day of the initial three week shutdown.
Among those present at the virtual meet, included Home Minister Amit Shah, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and top officials from the PMO and Union health ministry. The chief ministers who attended the meeting included Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi), Uddhav Thackeray (Maharashtra), E.K. Palaniswami (Tamil Nadu), Conard Sangma (Meghalaya) Trivendram Singh Rawat (Uttarakhand) and Adityanath (Uttar Pradesh).
