Telangana CM KCR extends state's COVID-19 lockdown till May 7; rent deferred by 3 months

In a massive development, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhara Rao, on Sunday, announced extending the state lockdown to May 7, at a press conference. He added that there will be no relaxation in lockdown till then and that further decisions will be taken on May 5 in the cabinet meeting depending on the situation. Currently, Telangana has reported 844 Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and 18 deaths.

Coronavirus Live Updates: Cases at 16116; Telangana extends lockdown till May 7

Telangana extends lockdown till May 7 (Key directives by KCR)

• No religious congregation is allowed during this lockdown till May 7 and all must celebrate all festivals confined within their homes.
• Food delivery companies like Swiggy and Zomato's services have been banned in state from Monday until 7 May. 
• Retired government employees have been offered 75% of their pension amounts, while Police personnel have been given 10% additional salaries.
• Landlords are directed to not collect rent from tenants for the months of March, April and May and to not levy any interest on payment.
• Private school must no increase fees for academic year 2020-21 and no other fee to be levied apart from tution fees.
• Ration card holders to get 12 kg rice in April and Rs 1500 per family
• Electricity supply's fixed charges to be deferred for industries for April and May
• Sports city to be developed in Hyderbad; 3-minister sub-committee to develop sports policy
• Gachchibowli stadium to be converted into 1,500 bed hospital - work to commence on Monday. The hospital will be converted into a medical college eventually - named as Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences and Research.

Telangana extends COVID-19 lockdown till April 30; to lift it in phases thereafter

KCR announced phased relaxation

On April 11, KCR had announced that the Coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown will be extended till April 30, after attending the PM-CM conference earlier in the day. He added that a strict will be implemented till April 30 and then will be lifted in stages after April 30. Telangana was one of the states which had seen a spike in the number of cases due to a large number of Nizamuddin Markaz attendees.

'Telangana still enumerating Nizamuddin attendees' says minister KTR as 300 hospitalised

Markaz & Telangana

When the Markaz issue came into light, Telangana reported six deaths - all who had attended the Markaz event. After initally failing to confirm the number of attendees, Telangana underwent a massive contact-tracing activity and found all Markaz attendees. The state health minister Eatala Rajendra claimed '85%  of Covid-19 cases reported in the State are linked to Nizamuddin Markaz'.

Dharavi reports 20 fresh COVID-19 cases, area tally with 138 cases and 11 deaths