NewsGate Press Network

By all available indications, 21-day lockdown will come to an end on 14 April 2020. However it will be a “staggered exit’.

This is what in nutshell Prime Minister Narendra Modi informed chief ministers during a video link on 02 April 2020. He asked them for suggestions for a ‘common exit strategy’.

It was clearly indicated during Modi’s interaction with CMs that the central government may not seek to extend the lockdown period.

‘The idea to make an staggered exit is to avoid sudden chaos on the streets. The entire population just cannot come out in one go, once the lockdown ends,” a senior government official told media persons.

“We cannot go straight from zero to 100% activity. We must slow down the opening up.” An empowered group of officers led by Union Home Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla is working on a strategy that will take into account the experience of other countries.

Possible suggestions for a planned exit, post 14th April period could include:

  1. Odd-Even scheme for all private vehicles, across the country.
  2. Restrictions of movements in COVID19 hot spots. Such areas will be ‘Out of Bound’ for outsiders.
  3. No large gatherings allowed.
  4. Staggered office hour & market timings.
  5. Restrictions of movement between sunset to sunrise (‘night curfew’).

“All states need to agree on a common exit plan — there needs to be uniformity,” the official said.

The Prime Minister may hold another video call  with CMs before April 14 to thrash out the exit plan, another senior official said.

Even after the lockdown is over, people should be asked to follow safety measures such as wearing masks, ensuring hand hygiene and social distancing, the PM said, warning them that the global situation was still not out of danger.

The PM warned that there could be a possible second wave of infection.