Telangana CM KCR announces lockdown in the state to be extended till 29 May

The Telangana government has extended the Covid-19 lockdown in the state till May 29.

Announcing the extension in a press conference, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao said, "We will enforce strict night curfew. We are ready to face any eventuality. We have enough facilities prepared."

This means that lockdown in Telangana will extend beyond the third phase of the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown which ends on May 17.

KCR said that only six districts in the state have been categorised as 'Red Zones' -- Suryapet, Gadwal, Rangareddy, Hyderabad, Medchal and Vikarabad. Of these, Hyderabad and Medchal are



the worst-affected and make up 66 per cent of the total coronavirus cases in Telangana.

The chief minister said that the lockdown is being extended to ensure that Hyderabad does not witness a mass community transmission stage like Mumbai, especially in the area covered by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.

He also said that while the Covid-19 death rate across the country stands at 3.37 per cent, in Telangana it is only 2.64 per cent.

"Telangana is close to flattening the Covid-19 curve. According to Hyderabad-based biotech companies, the vaccine for Covid-19 may be out by August or September," KCR added.