Measures needed in first three phases of lockdown not needed in fourth:PM; Asks states to share roadmap by May 15 for lockdown exit

In a clear indication thatongoing lockdown may not end completely but curbs will be further eased,Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said he wasof the firm view that the measures needed in the first three phases of lockdown were not needed "in the fourth", and asked the states to come up with a roadmap by May 15 on howto deal with various aspects of the gradual easing of the lockdown.

In a video conference, which lasted for nearly six hours, Modi held extensive discussionson various aspects of the situation arising out of the pandemic and the nationwide lockdown, and said country will have to devise a balanced strategy to revive the economy and deal with COVID-19 with a sharp focus on ensuring that rural areas remain free from the pandemic.

The 54-day nationwide lockdown since March 25 to contain the spread of coronavirus is scheduled to end on May 17.

"We have a twofold challenge to reduce the transmission rate of the disease, and to increase public activity gradually, while adhering to all the guidelines, and we will have to work towards achieving both these objective," the prime minister told the chief ministers at thevirtual interaction, fifth such meet since the outbreak of the pandemic in India.

According to an official release, Modi assertedthat social distancing was the biggest weapon to fight coronavirus till "we do not find a vaccine or a solution", and said, "we must understand that the world has fundamentally changed post COVID-19. Now the world will be pre-Corona, post-Corona just like the case of the world wars. And this would entail significant changes in how we function...We must all plan for the new reality."