Allowing public transportation, including metro services and flights, and restarting all economic activity in non-containment zones were among the proposals sent by states to the Prime Minister’s Office, as the centre draws up plans for a phased exit from the nationwide coronavirus lockdown. Earlier this week Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a six-hour video call with several chief ministers and asked for states’ input in deciding the contours of Lockdown 4.0, which will seek to project “normalcy on the ground”. The current period of lockdown – the third since it was enforced on March 25 – is scheduled to end on Sunday. It will be extended again, given the steep rise in the number of cases, but, with red flags over the condition of the economy and concerns over the migrant crisis, further relaxations in daily life and economic activity are likely.
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