by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
Special report
Centre worried as States want Lock-down Lifted
Covid-19 spreads to 40% of India in 3 days
Antibody tests from Wednesday on large scale
Restrictions easing review on April 12
Harish Gupta
New Delhi, April 5
Even as states after states are clamouring for lifting of lock-down after April 15, the Centre is treading with extreme caution to relax these restrictions. What has worried the Centre most is rise in the number of Covid-19 districts in the country from 211 to 274 today out of 712 districts within three days. This means Covid-19 has now spread to 40% parts of the country. But the consolation is that neither the number of Covid-19 cases is alarming and nor any signs of community transmission. Of course, there are several hot-spots in these 274 districts like in Mumbai, Delhi, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and their number has also risen to 40.
It is in this context that the Cabinet Secretary, Rajiv Gauba spoke to District Magistrates of these hot-spot areas.
The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has directed the high-powered Committee of Secretaries headed by the Cabinet Secretary to submit the detailed report on the next course of action with regard to the lock-down.
The Committee of Secretaries will hold a crucial meeting on April 11 to formulate an action plan in this regard. The government has allowed the antibody tests (preliminary 2-hour test) for Covid-19 which will be conducted on a large scale in these 40 hot-spots from Wednesday. These tests will enable the government to formulate a view whether Lock-Down should be lifted in the country or selectively.
One view is that restrictions be eased in areas which are free of Covid-19 impact and that too in a graded manner with a lot of dos & don’ts. The Health Ministry has already suggested a complete sealing of these hot-spots for 28 days and conduct massive antibody tests in these clusters.
The Prime Minister, on his part, will be holding a series of meeting with the Group of Ministers on Covid-19 tomorrow, Leaders of the Parliamentary parties on April 8, Chief Ministers of states on April 9 and other stake holders before Sunday next.
The Chief Ministers of several North-Indian states have already urged the Prime Minister to lift the lock-down as harvesting season has started and there is acute shortage of labourers. Though several restrictions have been eased for the agriculture sector. Yet the labour force shortage is acute which may impact country’s food security. The Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, Rajasthan, UP are already on record in this regard.
The travel & tourism sector has already conveyed to the government yesterday in its interaction that it can’t survive if this continues after April 15. The sector wants partial lifting of lock down with strict norms.
