Fact Check: Is The Govt Mulling Another Lockdown To Check COVID Spike?

New Delhi: In view of the steady rise in coronavirus cases in the country, there has been a buzz in recent days that another nationwide lockdown was imminent.

Reports that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had recommended a lockdown from September 25 had been doing the rounds on social media, along with a screenshot which was supposedly the agency’s order.

“In order to contain the spread of COVID-19 and decrease 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,” stated the ‘order’ dated September 10.

The Press Information Bureau has clarified that the ‘order’ which is being circulated is fake.

“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 tweeted.

India clamped a strict lockdown from March 25 to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. The government has been unlocking the economy and other activities in phases since June.

A massive spike in positive COVID-19 cases since August has triggered talk of another strict lockdown. India is the world’s second worst-hit nation, with more than 48 lakh infections. The last few days have seen over 90,000 cases daily.