Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday indicated that the lockdown can be extended in the state, if needed, news agency PTI reported.
The 3-week national lockdown, which came into force on 24 March midnight following the announcement made by PM Narendra Modi, entered its fourteenth day today.
"We will take a decision after analysing the circumstances. Lives of people are more important. We can tolerate lockdown. We can resurrect the economy later on but can't be able to bring back lives of people," Chouhan said in a video statement.
Chouhan also said that looking at the present situation in Bhopal and Indore, "we need to stay more alert and take precautions", news agency ANI reported.
Out of the total 268 coronavirus cases in the state so far, maximum 151 have been reported from Indore alone while the state capital accounted for 74 cases, including 12 new additions on Tuesday.
"And if required it (lockdown) will be extended. Lives of people is of utmost important to me and will decide on it (lockdown) looking after the situation," he added.
PM Narendra Modi yesterday cautioned people to be ready for a "long fight" against coronavirus and told his ministers to make plans for slowly exiting the ongoing lockdown.
