The center government on Sunday asked states to ensure the 21-day lockdown, asking them to help curb the exodus of migrant workers from cities, as the overall number of COVID-19 positive people crossed the 1,000-mark.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who declared a 21-day lockdown last week, warned against violation of the restrictions, saying those doing so were “playing with their own lives”.
He also apologized for the lockdown decision inconveniencing the poor, but made it clear that it was the need of the hour.