Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the extension in lockdown till 3rd may, as he addressed the nation today on the last day of the first part of the lockdown. The 21-day nationwide bandh was supposed to end today, however, has been extended as Coronavirus cases continue to rise in India.
The PM said that the lockdown will be super strict till April 20 and all regions will be monitored to check whether the rules are being followed. He said that rules will be eased for areas where the lockdown is implemented properly and fewer new cases are registered till April 20. He said the government will release a detailed plan for the lockdown tomorrow.
He said the decision was largely taken to benefit daily wage earners and the poor who are finding it hard to survive in the current scenario of shutdown.
Appreciating India’s efforts to fight the pandemic, Modi said, “Due to India’s holistic and integrated approach, India’s fight against Corona has been appreciable and notable. Web have been able to curb down the menace to a great extent due to the lockdown that we took at an early stage. We are strongly marching ahead on the right path to win the battle.”
“We did not wait for the problem to increase but acted immediately. When there were only 550 corona cases, we implemented a 21-day lockdown.The way people are following lockdown even during festivals is appreciable. Some are facing problem in getting food, others are facing trouble in going out and are forced to stay away from home,” PM Modi said.
Praising the efforts of state governments, Modi said how all the authorities came together and are giving a tough fight to COVID-19 adding that the country had enough supply of ration and medicine.
“If we look at it from an economic angle, it (lockdown) might look an expensive decision. We have paid a heavy price for it but the lives of Indians can never be valued. The path we have followed is being discussed internationally. Governments in various states, health departments in states have worked with a lot of responsibility,” Modi said.
Concluding his addressal, Modi urged people to follow the below mentioned 7 steps:
- Take proper care of the senior citizens, especially those with underlying problems.
- Lockdown and social distancing should be properly followed. Home-made face covers and masks should be used.
- Increase your immunity by following directions given by Ayush Ministry.
- To help curb coronavirus spread, download AarogyaSetu application.
- Wherever possible, help poor families.
- In your businesses, help your co-workers, don’t downsize people.
- Respect Coronavirus ‘soldiers’ like doctors, nurses, sanitation workers and the police force.
