Coronavirus Outbreak: Narendra Modi to hold video-conference with CMs today; decision on extending lockdown to be taken during meet

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with chief ministers of all states on Saturday via video, where a call would be taken on whether the 21-day lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus, ending next week, should be extended. The video conference comes amidst indications that the central government may extend the lockdown across the country beyond 14 April after several states have favoured the extension to contain the fast-spreading virus. [caption id=“attachment_8129111” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PTI[/caption] Addressing floor leaders of various parties who have representation in Parliament, on Wednesday, Prime Minister Modi had made it clear that the lockdown cannot be lifted in one go on 14 April, asserting that the priority of his government is to “save each and every life”. According to an official statement, he said states, district administrations and experts have suggested extension of the lockdown to contain the spread of the virus. Odisha has taken a lead and has extended the lockdown till 30 April. “Prime Minister Modi made it clear that lockdown is not being lifted and also that the life pre-corona and post-corona will not be same,” Biju Janata Dal leader Pinaki Misra had told PTI after Wednesday’s interaction. This is for the second time the prime minister will interact with the chief ministers via video link after the lockdown was imposed. During his 2 April interaction with chief ministers, Modi had pitched for a “staggered” exit from the ongoing lockdown. Before the lockdown was announced on 24 March, the prime minister had interacted with the chief ministers on March 20 to discuss means to check the spread of the deadly virus. According to a Health Ministry update this morning, the death toll due to COVID-19 has risen to 199 in India. The total number of coronavirus positive cases have climbed to 6,412.