NEW DELHI, Mar 19: Calling for “resolve and restraint” to fight the novel coronavirus (Covid-19), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asked the entire country to observe ‘Janta curfew’ on Sunday.
In a nearly 30-minute national broadcast, he asked people to stay indoors and work from home as much as possible while underscoring the dangers of the Covid-19, saying the world has never seen a crisis as grave as this.
“Even World War I and II did not affect as many countries as coronavirus has done,” Modi said, asking people to avoid this mindset that the disease will not affect India much when it has hit hard many developed countries.
Amid incidents of people resorting to hoarding food items in panic, Modi said “panic-buying” must be avoided and essential things, including medicines, should not be hoarded, adding his government is working to ensure their supply.
He called for ‘Janta curfew’ on 22 March from 7 AM to 9 PM, saying no citizen, barring those in essential services, should get out of their house, and asserted that it will be a litmus test to show how much India is ready to take on the challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic.
This experience will serve the nation well, he added.
“This Sunday, that is on 22 March, all citizens must follow this curfew from 7 am until 9 pm. During this curfew, we shall neither leave our homes, nor get onto the streets and refrain from roaming about in our societies or areas. Only those associated with emergency and essential services may leave their homes,” he said.
Lauding the hard work of medical professionals, sanitation staff, airline crews, delivery persons and media personnel among others, Modi asked people to express gratitude to them by giving them a five-minute standing ovation at 5 pm on Sunday by clapping hands, beating plates or ringing out bells.
The prime minister began his address by highlighting the scale of corornavirus’ impact and noted that there is a view that India has averted the crisis and all is well.
“This mindset is not correct. Complacency in respect of a global pandemic like coronavirus is not appropriate. It is essential that each and every Indian remains alert and cautious,” he said and asked a few weeks from the countrymen.
Studies of countries hit by the pandemic have revealed that it exploded after a few days, and the number of people infected by it grew at a very rapid pace.
A cure or vaccine for coronavirus has not been found yet, Modi said, adding that a few countries have controlled the situation by taking quick decisions and by isolating more and more people.
Even developed countries have been badly hit by the disease, he said and stated that it would be wrong to believe that the pandemic will not much impact India which has a population of 1.3 billion and is a developing country.
“It is essential to keep two key factors in mind in order to combat this pandemic: resolve and restraint,” he said.
“I appeal to you that for the next few weeks, step out of your homes only if absolutely necessary. As far as possible, try and do all your work, whether related to business or job, from home. Senior citizens, those above 60-65 years of age, should not leave their homes over the next few weeks,” Modi said.
He asked people to follow the directives of central and state governments to combat coronavirus.
It is critical that in this global pandemic, humanity emerges victorious, India emerges victorious, he said.
The government on Thursday advised companies to implement ‘Work from Home’ policy for their staff as part of encouraging “social distancing” to curb spreading of coronavirus infections.
In an advisory, Corporate Affairs Secretary Injeti Srinivas also said the ministry is examining relaxations under the companies’ law that could be implemented in wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
The Congress on Thursday said it will support every effort of the government in the battle against the coronavirus.
Senior spokesperson of the opposition party, Ajay Maken suggested creation of more testing facilities and conducting more tests in the country, while noting that there should be no shortage of any protective equipment for those engaged in combatting the virus.
He also pitched for creation of new containment zones and treatment facilities, besides increasing the number of ICU beds in view of the coronavirus outbreak.
“The Congress party and its workers will stand by the government in all its endeavours to fight the coronavirus. We will help spread the word on preventive measures. We will also organise any emergency service, if needed,” Maken told reporters here.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the nation on the coronavirus threat, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said he was duty-bound to support the PM.
“I am duty bound to support the PM. In effect, the PM has asked the people to wage the war against Covid with moral armaments. We shall do so on Sunday and in the following days,” the former Union minister said in a tweet.
“I have the feeling that the PM will come back in the next few days to announce tougher social and economic measures,” he added. (PTI)
