Modi discusses strategy for staggered lockdown exit with states

Interacting with them through video conference, he said it is necessary to ensure the availability of separate and dedicated hospital facilities for COVID-19 patients. Modi said it was imperative to work on a war footing, identify hotspots of the virus, encircle them and ensure that the virus does not spread out. As the nationwide lockdown ends on April 14, the Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba had a few days ago ruled out its extension too.

Thanking the Chief Ministers for their suggestions and also for appraising the situation on the ground, Modi said it was pertinent to maintain peace and law and order across the country. “COVID-19 has attacked our faith and belief and is threatening our way of life,” Modi said and appealed to the leaders to reach out to community leaders and social welfare organisations in the States, districts, towns and block levels to build up a united front based on community-approach in the battle against the pandemic. Modi outlined that the common goal for the country is to ensure minimum loss of life. In the next few weeks, testing, tracing, isolation and quarantine should remain the areas of focus. The States spoke about the importance of mobilising resources, financial as well as medical, to mitigate the crisis.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, Principal Secretary P K Misra, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba and DG, ICMR, Prof Balram Bhargava also participated in the interaction. In the midst of the fight against COVID-19 challenge, Modi will share a small video message on Friday morning “At 9 AM on Friday, I’ll share a small video message with my fellow Indians,” Modi tweeted. Meanwhile, 328 new cases were reported since Wednesday which took the combined tally of the infected from 29 in the country to nearly the 2000 mark, the Health Ministry said.