Prime Minister Narendra Modi Orders to Lock Down to Curb the Spread of Coronavirus Pandemic
India has locked down 1.3 billion people for three weeks to slow down the spread of coronavirus pandemic. It is an unprecedented lockdown in a nation that 519 confirmed cases and 11 deaths caused due to coronavirus.
In a televised address to the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “If we listen to the health experts, we know that 21 days are crucial to break the cycle of transmission”. He further said,” For a few days, forget what it means to go out. Today’s decision of nationwide lockdown draws a line outside your home”.
India is struggling to control the health and economic fallout from the outbreak. India could be the next nation with the highest virus cases, with experts warning that the measure of containment that proved successful elsewhere might not work adequately in the second-most populous country of the world.
On Tuesday, while addressing the people, Prime Minister Modi allocated approximately $2 billion for health care measures. In the last week, the government of India executed a complete lockdown in the major cities and also suspended trains, flights, and all the long-distance bus services.
The associate professor at the Public Health Foundation of India, Suresh Rathi, said, “It is a war of survival between us and the virus.” He further said, “Three weeks of complete lockdown is critical for India because it has a high density of population and limited resources.”
In the speech of 30 minutes, PM Modi said the amount allocated to fight coronavirus would be utilised for buying personal protective equipment for healthcare professionals, adding testing facilities, and expanding ventilators, isolation beds, and other crucial equipment.
In the country, the state government will ensure the availability of essential supplies and services. According to the statement of the Prime Minister, hospitals, medical shops, and establishments involved in the manufacturing of masks, sanitizers, medical devices, medicines, and vaccines will remain open.
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