In day 9 of the lockdown, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a detailed review of the current situation and impact of COVID-19 with states through video conferencing.

While assessing and reviewing measures to bolster efforts to tackle COVID-19, the PM said that the States and Centre must formulate a common exit strategy to ensure staggered re-emergence of the population once lockdown ends.

Not just this, Modi also asked states to come back with a strategy too.

"Prime Minister said that it is important to formulate a common exit strategy to ensure staggered re-emergence of the population once lockdown ends. He asked the States to brainstorm and send suggestions for the exit strategy," said the press statement issued by the Prime Minister's office post the video conferencing.

While thanking Modi, "the states spoke about the importance of mobilising resources, financial as well as medical, to mitigate the crisis," said the press statement.

Noting the current situation, PM also asked states to undertake fresh steps to contain the spread of novel coronavirus. He has asked states to set up "Crisis Management Groups at the district level and appointment of District Surveillance Officers" to avoid overlaps in efforts of stakeholders.

He also said that states must take data from "the accredited labs for testing - this will ensure congruence in data of district, state and centre."

He also asked states to ensure "staggered release of funds to the beneficiaries under PM Garib Kalyan Yojana to avoid crowding at banks."

The video conferencing by PM, held during the afternoon, was attended by Union Home Minister, Union Defence Minister, Union Health Minister, Principal Secretary, Cabinet Secretary, Home Secretary and DG ICMR. Along with the Chief Ministers, the Home Minister, Health Minister, Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and Health Secretary of the respective states.

Prime minister also asked states to ensure medical supplies to combat the trying times. He said, "The necessity of maintaining a supply of essential medical products, availability of raw material for the manufacture of medicines and medical equipment."

He further added that "it is necessary to ensure availability of separate, dedicated hospital facilities for COVID-19 patients. To increase the availability of doctors, he asked the States to tap into the resource pool of AYUSH doctors, organize online training and utilize para-medical staff, NCC and NSS volunteers."

PM appraised the states that the common goal for the country is to ensure minimum loss of life. In the next few weeks, testing, tracing, isolation and quarantine should remain the areas of focus.

Understanding the hardships of farmers, PM told the states that "considering that this is the time to harvest crops, the government has given some relaxation from lockdown ... states to think of other platforms for procuring grains apart from APMC, and explore the possibility of creating pooling platforms for rural areas, like that in ride-sharing apps, which can be used for this purpose."

The chief ministers of all states collectively thanked PM for his efforts, and said "Timely decision of Lockdown which has helped check the spread of the virus in the country...efforts of maintaining social distancing, tracking suspect cases, identifying and quarantining suspect cases arising from Nizamuddin Markaz, containing community transmission, boosting up of medical infrastructure, strengthening the medical workforce, provision of telemedicine, provision of mental health counselling, distribution of food and other essentials to those in need and taking care of migrant workers."

"He said that it is pertinent to maintain peace and law order across the country. He added that COVID-19 has attacked our faith and belief and is threatening our way of life. He appealed to the leaders to reach out to community leaders and social welfare organizations at the state, district, town and block levels to build up a united front based on community-approach in the battle against the pandemic."

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also stressed the need to strictly follow the lockdown.

"Union Home Minister talked about the need to implement lockdown more strictly in some states and the importance of effective district-level implementation of the guidelines issued by the Centre," the statement said.

Union Health Secretary also apprised "the dignitaries of the rise in the number of cases in India, the spread of cases from Nizamuddin Markaz, preparations to tackle medical cases arising out of a further spread of the virus and need to break transmission chain in the districts with a high number of confirmed cases," the statement added.

Story Credit CNBCtv18.com