Amid speculation, Centre refutes reports claiming extension of 21-day coronavirus lockdown

Amid rumours and speculations that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Central Government may extend the 21-day lockdown over coronavirus, the Centre clarified that there was no plan to extends the restrictions beyond April 14.

The 21-day lockdown came into force on Tuesday midnight after an announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba has denied media reports claiming that the government will extend the lockdown, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting tweeted.

"There are rumours & media reports, claiming that the Government will extend the #Lockdown21 when it expires. The Cabinet Secretary has denied these reports, and stated that they are baseless," it said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Tuesday announced a 21-day lockdown till April 14 to combat the spread of novel coronavirus. Soon after, the Ministry of Home Affairs had issued an order under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 for the nationwide lockdown and separate guidelines listing the essential goods and services to be allowed during the lockdown period.

The ministry has now said that transportation of all goods, without distinction of essential and non-essential, have been allowed.

The states were on Sunday directed to not allow movement of people across the cities and to ensure that the migrant labourers who were leaving their places of work are sheltered in the relief camps and other places for providing them food for the containment of the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

The directions were issued amid a mass exodus of migrant labourers and workers from cities to their native places.

Following the directive, police in all states sealed the border to stop the movement.