Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 10 am today, the last day of the 21-day nationwide lockdown imposed due to the coronavirus, amid indications that the lockdown will be extended for 14 more days with some relaxations to boost the ailing economy.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 10 AM on 14th April 2020," the Prime Minister's Office tweeted.
In a 4-hour long video conference with Chief Ministers of all states on Saturday, PM Modi took their feedback on whether the 21-nation-wide lockdown be extended beyond April 14 to stem the tide of the infections.
Several chief ministers including Arvind Kejriwal and Amarinder Singh suggested extending the lockdown beyond April 14.
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Delhi CM Kejriwal suggested that the lockdown should be extended till April 30 not only in Delhi but across the country.
According to reports, the Centre is likely to categorise the country into red, orange and green zones depending on the number of COVID-19 cases during the proposed extended period of lockdown and might allow limited services to function in the safe zones.
Officials privy to the discussions during the PM's conference with chief ministers said that schools and colleges would remain shut but some small scale industries and liquor shops may be allowed to function.
There was near unanimity in extending the ongoing 21-day lockdown and the central government is likely to categorise the country into three zones -- red, orange and green -- depending on the number of COVID-19 cases, an official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said.
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Last month, the prime minister had addressed the nation twice -- on March 19 and March 24.
On March 19, he had called for resolve and restraint to fight coronavirus. He had also announced a 'janta curfew' on March 22, a Sunday.
On March 24, he had announced the 21-day nationwide lockdown to check the spread of the deadly virus.
In a video message on April 3, Modi had urged people to switch off the lights at their homes and light up lamps, candles or mobile phone torches for nine minutes at 9 pm on April 5 to display the country's "collective resolve" to defeat the coronavirus.
