Fact Check! Centre to re-impose strict nationwide lockdown from September 25 to curb rising COVID-19 cases

By Lokmat English Desk | Published: September 15, 2020 10:12 AM2020-09-15T10:12:10+5:302020-09-15T10:12:10+5:30

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The government has dismissed reports that a strict nationwide lockdown of 46 days had been recommended from September 25 in view of a spike in coronavirus cases in the country, terming it “fake news”.

The Press Information Bureau issued a clarification on Monday after an order, which is widely being circulated on social media, claimed that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had called for another lockdown from September 25.

\The PIB said that said the order in circulation was fake and NDMA has not issued any such order to re-impose lockdown.

"Claim: An order purportedly issued by National Disaster Management Authority claims that it has directed the government to re-impose a nationwide lockdown from 25th September. PIB Fact Check: This order is Fake. NDMA has not issued any such order to re-impose lockdown," PIB Fact Check tweeted along with a screenshot supposed to be of the agency's order.

The “fake” order dated September 10 said that the NDMA has directed the government to re-impose lockdown across the country starting from midnight September 25.

“In order to contain the spread of Covid-19 and decrease the mortality rate in the country, the National Disaster Management Authority, along with the Planning commission, hereby urges the government of India and directs the Prime Minister office, ministry of home affairs to re-impose a strict nationwide lockdown of 46 days starting from midnight September 25, 2020. Maintaining the supply chain of essential commodities in the country, therefore hereby NDMA is issuing a prior notice to the ministry to plan accordingly,” read the order.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had imposed a nationwide lockdown in March-end to contain the spread of the coronavirus. All activities were prohibited except essential activities during the lockdown period.

The coronavirus-induced restrictions and the lockdown measures have been eased in a phased manner since June.

The reports of another tough lockdown come amid a surge in coronavirus cases. India, which is the world's second worst-hit, has so far reported more than 48 lakh infections. The country has been registering a single-day spike of more than 90,000 cases over the past few days

PM Modi recently urged the people of the country to follow COVID-19 related precautionary measures, including wearing masks and marinating social distancing until a vaccine is developed.