COVID-19 pandemic: PM Modi declares 21-day lock-down for entire country till April 14

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared a 21-day-long complete lock-down for the entire country till April 14 to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. The lock-down will come into effect from 12am tonight. In his second address on the unprecedented menace, the Prime Minister said that all people should obey the government’s instruction for their own safety. Otherwise, the country will move backwards by 21 years, he warned. Citing the crises currently faced by Italy and the USA due to the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus Modi said, “I appeal to all our citizens with folded hands not to come out from their homes as the situation is very very alarming. We will fight against the pandemic and win against it. But for that your co-operation is necessary. We must break the virus chain”.

The PM addressed the nation at 8 pm on Tuesday for the second time on the pandemic. On Thursday last week, he addressed the nation on the issue for the first time. He addressed the nation for the second time when the coronavirus pandemic claimed the lives of 10 people and infected more than five hundred people across the country. In a serious tone, the PM said that all people except those who are employed in emergency services like health-care, media, police, fire etc., should stay indoors till April 14,2020 to help contain the outbreak of the dreaded virus. “Everybody should act responsibly. The future of the country depends on you. You may treat the lock-down as a curfew”, he added.

The Prime Minister also said that the country may face economic crisis due to the 21-day-long lock-down, which is considered as longest lock-down till date. But the government has no other option except it, he hinted. The Prime Minister also announced Rs.15 thousand crore for developing the country’s healthcare facilities and medical infrastructure. During the address, he also thanked the emergency providers like medical professionals, police, journalists and others who have been relentlessly trying to tackle the menace. In his first addressed to the nation, PM Modi appealed all to observe a Janata Curfew on March 22 between 7 am to 9pm to control the virus infection. Meanwhile, 30 states in the country including Assam declared a complete lock-down till March 31, 2020, in a bid to contain the contamination of the dreaded virus.

Also Read : Indian stranded at Dubai as he missed last flight due to slumber

Also Watch: Senior Journalist Ajit Kumar Bhuyan files nomination papers for Rajya Sabha elections