PM Modi announces nationwide complete lockdown for 21 days

On Tuesday Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a complete lockdown across the country starting midnight in order to hold off the menace of novel coronavirus (COVID-19). “In the view of the current situation, the nationwide complete lockdown will be in place for 21 days,” the Prime Minister declared in his second address to the nation this week.

“If we are not able to manage the upcoming 21 days, we will be pushed back 21 years,” Modi said, “This is an application for everyone, including the Prime Minister.”

The PM also emphasised the importance of social distancing in tackling the issue. He said, “Social distancing is the only option to stay safe and to stop the coronavirus- stay at a distance from each other and stay inside your houses.” Narendra Modi also asked the public to think about the frontline healthcare workers who are fighting tirelessly against the virus.

He had also announced that an Economic Response Task Force under the leadership of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman are working on a relief package, based on regular interactions and feedback from all stakeholders and an analysis of all situations and dimensions.

As per the latest briefing by the Health Ministry, the total number of cases has crossed 500, including 39 who have recovered and nine deaths.