Mamata extends lockdown in West Bengal till April 30

West Bengal became the fourth state in the country to extend the COVID-19 induced lockdown after Odisha, Punjab and Maharashtra. The country has been under lockdown since March 23. It was scheduled to end on April 14.

Kolkata:The West Bengal government here on Saturday extended the lockdown till April 30 to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Making the announcement to the media at the state secretariat Nabanna, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the decision was taken after a video conference between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Chief Ministers.

Read:Maharashtra extends lockdown amid surge in COVID-19 cases

"The Prime Minister said the lockdown will be extended till April 30. We all agreed. Thus, I have decided to extend the lockdown till April 30," she said.

The country has been under a lockdown since March 23. It was scheduled to end on April 14.

In a live webcast with prime minister Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray had stated that lockdown will be extended till April 30 in view of the lack of any other options.

Explaining the broad contours of the plan, the CM said while restrictions would be eased in certain areas in the state during the extended period, they will become stricter in others.

Before Maharashtra, Odisha and Punjab had formally extended the lockdown period till April 30.