Reports that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) of India had called for another lockdown starting from September 25 have been widely shared across social media platforms, along with a screenshot supposed to be of the agency's order.
"In order to contain the spread of Covid-19 and decrease the mortality rate in the country, the National Disaster Management Authority, along with the Planning commission, hereby urges the government of India and directs the Prime Minister office, ministry of home affairs to re-impose a strict nationwide lockdown of 46 days starting from midnight September 25, 2020. Maintaining the supply chain of essential commodities in the country, therefore hereby NDMA is issuing a prior notice to the ministry to plan accordingly," said the "order".
However, the government of India on Monday, September 14, denied reports that another lockdown had been recommended from September 25 because of a spurt in coronavirus cases in the country.
The Press Information Bureau tweeted that the NDMA "order" in circulation was fake.
"Claim: An order purportedly issued by National Disaster Management Authority claims that it has directed the government to re-impose a nationwide lockdown from 25th September. PIB Fact Check: This order is Fake. NDMA has not issued any such order to re-impose lockdown," PIB tweeted.