Fact Check: Will Govt Extend Lockdown Beyond April 14?

New Delhi: The question uppermost in the mind of every Indian today is: Will the lockdown be extended? 

Although the government is non-commital, the news agency PTI, quoting government sources said on Tuesday that the Central government is mulling extending the nationwide lockdown beyond April 14 following requests from several states and experts.

However, PTI  said sources did not indicate if a final decision has been taken on the matter, and Joint Secretary in the Union Health Ministry Lav Aggarwal said, “no decision on extending lockdown has yet been (taken), please don’t speculate.”

“A lot of state governments as well as experts are requesting the Central Government to extend the lockdown. The Central government is thinking in this direction,” a source said, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked countrymen to be ready for a long battle against the COVID-19 pandemic and exhorted people to not feel tired or defeated while expressing confidence that India will emerge victorious in the fight.

In a video conference with the Council of Ministers  on Monday, Modi had clearly indicated that lifting the lockdown in one go is very unlikely.