In a major announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared complete shutdown in whole India for the next 21 days, starting from 12 midnight today.

Modi urged the entire country with folded hands to stay indoors as he stressed lockdown was the only way to overcome the pandemic.

“People in countries like America have adhered to the quarantine guidelines laid down by the government to the last letter, which is how they are starting to overcome the disease now. Social distancing — from the prime minister down to the last citizen in every village, has to follow self-isolation,” Modi said, urging citizens for the second time over quarantine.

He also said that multiple countries around the world are suffering from the coronavirus, despite having world-class health care systems.

“You must not forget that sometimes people infected with coronavirus appear to be healthy. They do not look sick at all,” says PM Modi.

Modi further said that the country will increase the medical facilities including masks, ventilators, and other necessary medical equipment.

Modi said that every citizen should be compassionate and grateful for those in essential services like doctors and nurses and police, and even the media and hygiene workers who are sanitising public areas.

Narendra Modi quoted WHO statistics to emphasise the need of the complete nationwide lockdown in a bid to spread coronavirus. He said that from taking 60+ days to spread to one lakh people, the coronavirus has now started spreading faster and faster.