No plan to extend COVID-19 lockdown: Rajiv Gauba

Amid speculation that the restrictions imposed to fight Covid-19 may go beyond April 15, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba on Monday said there is no plan to extend the 21-day national lockdown at present even as a government spokesperson later clarified that a decision will be taken as per the evolving situation.

Gauba's assertion came following some media reports about the government contemplating extending the 21-day lock-down that began on March 25 following the exodus of migrant workers across cities.

"I am surprised to see such reports, there is no such plan of extending the lockdown," the Cabinet Secretary said.

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The Press Information Bureau (PIB), the government's information dissemination wing, also tweeted, "there are rumours and media reports, claiming that the Government will extend the lockdown when it expires. The Cabinet Secretary has denied these reports, and stated that they are baseless."

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Referring to the news report, state-run broadcaster Prasar Bharti said it was "fake news". In a tweet it said the Prasar Bharati News Service (PNBS) "got in touch with the Cabinet Secretary on this news article. The Cabinet Secretary expressed surprise and said that there is no such plan of extending the lockdown."

However during the daily press conference on Covid-19, PIB Director General K S Dhatwalia said media had reported that the government was planning to extend the lockdown beyond April 14 and the Cabinet Secretary has only clarified that there was no such plan.

Dhatwalia was responding to a question about what would be the conditions that the government would consider not to extend the lockdown while referring to Gauba's remarks. "There is no assessment at present on whether the lockdown will be there or not. A decision will be taken according to the situation," he said.

India has reported over 1,100 cases by Sunday evening while at least 27 have died due to Covid-19 infection. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the lock-down from March 25 to fight the spread of Covid-19.