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Amid tremendous success of the ongoing people’s curfew to battle an evolving COVID-19 pandemic in India, the government on Sunday ordered the lockdown of 75 districts where positive cases of the deadly virus have so far been confirmed.

The decision was taken at a high level review meeting held by Cabinet Secretary Rajeev Guaba and Principal Secretary to the PM with the chief secretaries of all states.

All chief secretaries informed the top Central officials that the call of “Janata Curfew” given by PM Narendra Modi had received an overwhelming and spontaneous response.

“It was agreed that there is an urgent need to extend restrictions on non-essential passenger transport, including inter-state passenger buses, till March 31. Following detailed discussions, the state governments were asked to issue appropriate orders; only essential services to operate in 75 districts which have reported confirmed cases or casualties due to COVID-19,” a statement from the Cabinet Secretary said.

The Centre has also asked states to expand and deepen the lockdown in districts depending on their own assessment of the situation.

Several states have already issued orders in this regard, including Rajasthan, Punjab, Chandigarh, and West Bengal.

The meeting took the following decisions: all train services suspended till March 31, except goods trains. All suburban rail services also suspended; all metro services suspended till March 31, but states will issue orders to allow emergency metro services in 75 districts with confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths; inter-state passenger transport to be suspended till March 31.

The lockdown will extend to 75 affected districts immediately, even as people stay home voluntarily responding to the PM’s call to break the chain of transmission of the deadly virus.

Meanwhile, in a significant tweet on Sunday Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said some anti-social elements were using social media to ask people to come out of the houses after 9 pm claiming that the virus threat would be over.

Vardhan said social distancing would be needed for many weeks going forward to battle the growing disease.

“Some anti-social elements are spreading misinformation that after today’s #JantaCurfew ends, the deadly virus will be wished away. They’re exhorting people to come outdoors after 9pm.

“This is false and an attempt to mislead the public. Social distancing must be adopted as a habit,” Vardhan warned people.

Medical experts have been asking the government to go in for a complete lockdown to prevent community transmission of the COVID-19 disease, which is currently restricted to imported cases and their contacts in India.

China has already achieved flattening the transmission curve but through a legally enforced crackdown.

Indian lockdown is a voluntary effort which began with “Janata Curfew” today.