The Centre may extend the 21-day nationwide lockdown period till the end of April after several states and experts have made a request for it.
The 21-day nationwide lockdown, which was called on March 24, was aimed to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country.
Government sources informed on Tuesday that several states and experts have requested the Centre to extend the lockdown period beyond April 14.
On Monday, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said that he will urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi to extend the lockdown period to check the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.
“If the lockdown is lifted, then we may witness a large number of deaths,” Rao had said on Monday.
A top Uttar Pradesh bureaucrat has also hinted last week that he would request the Prime Minister to extend the lockdown period.
Another senior bureaucrat from Punjab is also in favour of extending the lockdown period beyond April 14.
Expressing his apprehension about the rise of COVID-19 cases in the state, a Maharashtra minister on Friday also said that the lockdown should be extended beyond April 14.
Earlier on Tuesday, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said, “The final week of the ongoing lockdown is critical and the data regarding the spread of COVID-19 will decide on if the lockdown is required to be extended beyond April 14 or not.”
Naidu urged the people to abide by whatever decision is ultimately taken by the Centre.
He urged all to cooperate with the same spirit that has so far been evident.