Prime Minister Narendra Modi will once again hold discussions with the chief ministers on Monday as the nation enters into the last week of lockdown brought in to check the spread of coronavirus.

The PM is likely to seek views of states in lifting the lockdown, which is in place till May 3.

Earlier today, the government passed an ordinance to protect health workers from violent attacks

On April 20, Telangana state cabinet decided to extend the lockdown period in the state till May 7.

The number of coronavirus cases touched 20,471 on Wednesday, with 652 deaths, according to data from the ministry of health and family welfare.

Maharashtra is the worst-affected state with 6,191 cases of the coronavirus disease, and 251 deaths.

Earlier, in his third interaction with chief ministers since the first lockdown began on March 25, the PM acknowledged that many CMs suggested that the lockdown be extended for a fortnight.

Subsequently, the PM did extend the lockdown period, saying that India will have to strike a balance between “jaan” (lives) and “jahan” (the outside world).

For the government, both at the central and state level, the situation clearly has posed a difficult choice. The demands of public health — which dictate that an extension of the lockdown is the best way to control the spread of the disease — and the demands of the economy — which is in crisis with supply and demand shocks, closure of factory plants, business becoming unviable, loss of jobs and incomes — have to be reconciled.