Coronavirus India Update: Nationwide lockdown for 21 days starting tonight

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Coronavirus India Update: Nationwide lockdown for 21 days starting tonight

PM Modi warned, if we don't follow a complete lockdown for the coming 21 days, the nation will go back 21 years

Tuesday March 24, 2020 10:22 PM, IANS

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced nationwide three weeks lockdown starting from Tuesday midnight. All states and union territories will come under its purview.

He said this is an essential step to fight coronavirus decisively. He added that saving lives is priority as of now.

"With folded hands, I request you to stay put wherever you are," said Prime Minister Modi. He added that he is mindful of the economic ramifications of it. However, this is a smaller concern.

PM Modi warned, if we don't follow a complete lockdown for the coming 21 days, the nation will go back 21 years and many families will be devastated.

The Prime Minister quoted WHO figures, on the number of days it took for the first, second, and third lakh infections to spread, to emphasise the need of the complete nationwide lockdown in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus. He said the coronavirus has now started spreading faster.

He also said many powerful countries in the world have become helpless, regardless of their efforts. He once again reiterated that social distancing is the only way to deal with this deadly coronavirus that has infected more than 500 in India, so far.

"Some people are under the misconception that social distancing is only for those infected with coronavirus... but they should understand that this for everyone because it is important to break the cycle," said PM Modi in his address to the nation.

Rs 15,000 crore package to combat Coronavirus

Modi also announced a Rs 15,000 crore package for medical infrastructure to combat Covid-19. This was done to acquire medical equipment and protective gear, testing facilities and ventilators.

"I have appealed to state governments to make the public healthcare the highest priority right now. I am also sure that private companies will also join in the efforts to curb the infection", he said.

Rarely does a nation come to a point where it needs to be shut down completely. A shut down in India, which has 133 crore people, means a greater challenge for the administration.

Long queues outside grocery stores

Soon after his announcement, long queues were spotted outside grocery stores, from across India, sparking off panic. The PM had to take to Twitter to reassure that all essentials will be made available, through this period.

As the clock strikes twelve on Tuesday night, India's unprecedented, unheard of tryst with a complete lockdown, will begin till mid-April.

This is his second address to the nation regarding coronavirus. In his first address he urged Indians to observe 'Janata Curfew'.

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