Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation on Tuesday for the fifth time since the nationwide lockdown due to deadly coronavirus has been imposed.

His address comes after a six-hour-long meeting with the state Chief Ministers regarding the fate of the lockdown 3.0 which is scheduled to end on May 17.

The first lockdown was imposed for 21 days on March 25 after which it extended till May 3 for another 19 days. It has been extended for another two weeks till May 17.

Both the lockdowns were announced by the Prime Minister himself through an address to the nation while for the decision of the third extension, he was unavailable.

Many states are in favour of resuming economic activity outside containment zones.

The video conference with the chief ministers focused on ways to strengthen the COVID-19 containment strategy and stepping up of economic activities in a calibrated manner post the 54-day shutdown.

BDST: 1328 HRS, MAY 13, 2020
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