Prime Minister Narendra Modi today during his address to the nation announced that the current nationwide lockdown will be extended till May 3. The lockdown was announced on March 25, and was initially to be lifted on April 14. However, given the spiking number of coronavirus cases in India, the government has no choice but to continue the lockdown in order to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. In India, current figures have crossed the 10,000-mark with the number of confirmed cases standing at 10,503 so far, while 358 people have lost their lives.
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PM Modi also added that each district in every state will be closely monitored until April 30. Post that, the government may take a call on easing a few restrictions. According to him, India is in much better shape than many major countries in the fight against coronavirus. “If the country had not taken a holistic, integrated approach and had not acted fast, then it is frightening to think what the situation would have been today,” he said.
Twitterati Reacts
As soon as the Prime Minister announced the extension of the lockdown, keyboard warriors took no time to take to Twitter to share their reactions. Here’s what the Twitterverse is saying:
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Introverts couldn’t care less
*Introverts after knowing lockdown extended till 3rd of May* pic.twitter.com/UW6vY77KES
— अंकित त्यागी (@Ankit_Tyagi151) April 14, 2020
Some are trying to be positive
When Modi ji said lockdown extended till 3rd May me & my family #Lockdown2 pic.twitter.com/QmPKnjFcKD
— Aman.Mashetty (@aman_mashetty) April 14, 2020
Others, not so much
Lockdown extended till 3 may…
*Smokers and people who don't have any alcohol 😹😆#Lockdown2 pic.twitter.com/GtftQfPqC2— 💮Blue🌸 (@Preeti__Shetty) April 14, 2020
The perfect time for a Bollywood reference
Mat utho Anarkali lockdown 3rd May tak extend ho chuka hai #Lockdown2 pic.twitter.com/XXhpXlpVYY
— swati__jaiswal (@swati__jaiswal) April 14, 2020
What else is there to do now?
All indians at After 3rd May
10 AM Announcement pic.twitter.com/Nm7hkfDJmU— 👑 Prince 👑 (@_Prince_khiladi) April 14, 2020
Anxiety is strong with this one!
Me while listening PM Modi speech about extending the lockdown#Lockdown2 pic.twitter.com/NxNpMepJhh
— Destroy Khiladi Haters (@destroy_hater) April 14, 2020
Several people are worried about their jobs
#Lockdown2 extended till 3 May .
My financial condition : pic.twitter.com/iAJJilHmgK
— Kaustav Aryan (@iamkaustavaryan) April 14, 2020
Might as well sneak in a Star Wars reference
Lockdown extended till 3rd May.
May the fourth be with us. #Lockdown2 pic.twitter.com/FuwZ9esDXV— Sumit Siroha (@BabaBairaagi) April 14, 2020
Sending a virtual hug to everyone living alone
#ModiMangalMessage#Lockdown2
Those who are away from their family rn – pic.twitter.com/k4wKk86btD— Jeet Chikhaliya (@Jeetchikhalia) April 14, 2020
This Hera Pheri reference is apt! #StayHomeStaySafe
Modiji after extending lockdown#Lockdown2 pic.twitter.com/G4YcTiaCRv
— Vaibhav Hatwal ◟̽◞̽ 🤧 (@vaibhav_hatwal) April 14, 2020
Some expected more from the PM’s speech
It's been 20 mins; 10 mins of election speech given also, but so far no mention of-
• Economic stimulus package.
• Migrants/Daily wage earners etc.
•No comprehensive numbers given on Testing.
• No action plan to save MSMEs
•No mention of PPE.#ModiMangalMessage#Lockdown2— Saral Patel (@SaralPatel) April 14, 2020
Others called for the government to focus on the poor
Welcome step but no any economic packages to boost the dreading economy,no help to MSME sector . NO sound way to tackle hunger other than social philosophy which is hardly in practice.PLEASE DO HELP THE NEEDY sir @pmo #Lockdown2
— Deepak Sharma (@DeepakS18805356) April 14, 2020
The most important takeaway: lives>economy
India may have paid a big economic loss but there is no alternative to human lives: @narendramodi#Lockdown2 pic.twitter.com/Rjjm33jzyN
— Abhishek Dubey (@abhi_2511) April 14, 2020
How are you coping with the extension of the lockdown?
Also Read: Lack Of PPE, Rampant Discrimination: How India Is Failing Its Healthcare Workers
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