Assam writes to Centre favouring extension of lockdown by two more weeks

NEW DELHI/GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday said the state has written to the Centre urging it to extend the ongoing lockdown by two more weeks from May 18. The third phase of the nationwide lockdown is scheduled to end on May 17.

Addressing a press conference here, Sonowal said all states were supposed to give their feedback on the extension of the lockdown by Friday, and the Assam government has already conveyed its stand to the Centre.

The state has also conveyed its views on the relaxations it wants in the fourth phase of the lockdown, Sonowal said.

Meanwhile, Mizoram has extended the lockdown till May 31 to check the spread of the virus. Mumbai, fighting a huge spurt in Coronavirus cases, will extend the lockdown scheduled to end on May 17, a Maharashtra minister confirmed on Thursday.

Maharashtra’s Industry minister Subhash Desai said after a meeting with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday: “Looking at the way cases have been going up in big cities like Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Malegaon, Aurangabad, it seems the lockdown may be extended. It will have to be done because of the situation. The government focus is on the health of the people. The first focus is that. Then, of course, there is industry and economy.”

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government-appointed health expert team recommended to Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami a phased easing of the lockdown. The experts recommended ramping up testing to map the virus spread better. Sources said the TN government would not allow public transport, gyms, malls and theatres to operate during the extended lockdown period.