Heartland states likely to ease lockdown from June as cases decline

As the number of Covid-19 cases and positivity rate has come down in several heartland states, their governments are considering easing the restrictions in a phased manner.

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan held a meeting of state senior officials on Saturday evening . Chouhan said easing out can only happen from June. Currently. MP has a positivity rate of around 5% and Chouhan said it needs to come down to zero through restrictions in the coming week. Some cities such as Bhopal have lockdown till May 24, which will be extended for a week.

Uttar Pradesh has extended its partial curfew until May 31. But officials say the state may look at easing relaxations from June.


On Saturday, Bihar chief secretary Tripurari Sharan held a video conferencing meeting with district magistrates on their suggestion regarding lockdown.

Bihar has lockdown till May 26. Most of the district magistrates were of the opinion to extend the lockdown as it has helped curb the virus spread. “This will be decided by the CM and the departments concerned in a day or two,” Mangal Pandey, Bihar health minister told ET. Bihar is all set to extend the lockdown from May 26 for another week.