Odisha extends lock-down till April-end

Bhubaneswar, Apr 9: When the stories of extending of countrywide COVID-19 lockdown were doing rounds in the media, Odisha became the first Indian state government to officially extend the lockdown period to April 30.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had hinted at the possibility of extending nationwide lockdown and restrictions after the April 14 deadline of the present lockdown.

Odisha government’s decision comes as the coronavirus patients neared 6000-mark in the country. According to the Health Ministry sources, the number of COVID-19 patients has reached 5734 registering an increase of 540 new cases in the last 24 hours. The death toll so far stood at 166.

The Odisha government also recommended the Central government to extend the lockdown till April 30 in the entire country to fight COVID-19. State Chief Minister Naveed Patnaik said that the decision has been taken after consultation with his cabinet colleagues and the same will be recommended to the Centre".