Reports Of Lockdown Extension 'Baseless', Says Centre

"Rumours and media reports" that the 21-day lockdown to check the spread of COVID-19 will be extended are "baseless", the government asserted on Monday.

The Press Information Bureau, government's media body, tweeted, “There are rumors & media reports, claiming that the Government will extend the #Lockdown21 when it expires. The Cabinet Secretary has denied the report stated that they are baseless.”

A report had claimed that the government was planning to extend the lockdown due to the infection risk posed by the mass immigration of migrants trying to reach home, desperate for food and shelter.

Earlier, Rajiv Gauba, Cabinet Secretary, had also denied such reports, saying he was “surprised” to see them. “There is no such plan of extending the lockdown,”

Last Tuesday, PM ordered the 3-week "total lockdown" to break the chain of transmission of the ghastly COVID-19 virus. He reiterated his appeal to people to stay indoors in his Mann Ki Baat address on Sunday when he apologized to people for the hardships caused due to the lockdown but admitted there was no other option.

Modi appealed to people not to violate the nationwide lockdown and stressed upon “increasing social distancing but reducing emotional distancing”.