With some experts believing that Kerala will have one lakh coronavirus cases per day later this month, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today announced a statewide lockdown from May 8-16. This was expected to come, especially because several States have already got different levels of lockdown in force.

The announcement goes beyond the night curfew (from 9 pm to 5 am) that is in force in the State.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa is reported to have said that his State is waiting for the Prime Minister to announce a national lockdown. Hours after it was reported by a news agency, several sources claimed that there was no such plan.

However, as reported by some news outlets, the Centre is likely considering the step of a national lockdown. Already, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi has demanded one.

Meanwhile, Kerala is also in the news for asking the Centre supply of oxygen. Till recently, its CM claimed that Kerala is an oxygen-surplus State.