New Delhi | Jagran News Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday indicated that the nationwide lockdown could be extended in worst-hit areas of the country after May 3. He conveyed to chief ministers that the country will have to give importance to the economy as well as to continue the fight against coronavirus.
"Lockdown has yielded positive results, country has managed to save thousands of lives in past 1.5 months," said PM Modi during his video-conference interaction with chief ministers.
The prime minister told the chief ministers efforts of states should be directed towards converting the red zones into orange and thereafter to green zones. He also highlighted the importance for states to enforce prescribed guidelines strictly in the coronavirus hotspots zones
PM Modi said that the country has seen two lockdowns till now, both different in certain aspects, and now we have to think of the way ahead.
Also Read: Govt prepares roadmap to exit Lockdown 2.0; here's what may be allowed and what not after May 3
Lauding the lockdown and its impact in breaking the chain of transmission of the virus, PM Modi said that the impact of COVID-19 will remain visible in the coming months, adding that "masks and face covers will be part of life."
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"We have to give importance to to the economy as well as continue the fight against Covid-19. We have to be brave and bring reforms that touch lives of common people," he said.
Meanwhile, Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy told PTI that most chief ministers in the meeting conveyed to the prime minister that the lockdown be extended. "CMs were unanimous in telling PM that the way virus was spreading, there needs to be a cautious approach in lifting lockdown," he added.
Narayanasamy said that the Centre should announce a stimulus package "on lines of UPA's 2008 package" for revival of economy. He also said that PM Modi appreciated efforts made by Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot in containing coronavirus.
At the video conference to discuss the situation arising due to COVID-19 in the country, which is under a 40-day lockdown since March 25 to contain the pandemic, Meghalaya said it will continue with the shutdown post May 3 with relaxations in 'Green Zones' or non-COVID affected districts.
This is PM 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, PM 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), Pinarayi Vijayan (Kerala), Uddhav Thackeray (Maharashtra), E K Palaniswami (Tamil Nadu), Conrad Sangma (Meghalaya), Trivendra Singh Rawat (Uttarakhand) and Yogi Adityanath (Uttar Pradesh).
In his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' radio address on Sunday, the prime minister said the country is in the middle of a 'yudh' (war) and asserted that people have to continue being careful and take precautions.
His note of caution came amidst gradual exemptions being granted by the Centre and states to revive economic activities.
"I urge you not to get overconfident. You should in your over-enthusiasm not think that if the coronavirus has not yet reached your city, village, street or office, it is not going to reach now. Never make such a mistake. The experience of the world tells us a lot in this regard," Modi said while referring to a popular Hindi idiom 'Sawdhani hati, durghatna ghati' (disaster strikes when you lower your concentration).
The Centre and the state governments have been giving gradual exemptions to boost economic activities as also to provide relief to people as some states want further relaxation in areas which have seen few or no coronavirus cases.