PM Modi calls for social distancing, restraint & 'Janata curfew' this Sunday to fight COVID-19

Commencing his address, PM Modi said: "The present situation owing to Coronavirus is no better than World War I and II. India is fighting Coronavirus bravely. Everyone is doing his/her bit to combat the disease."

"At this hour of crisis, we need two tools: resolve and restraint to fight the menace," he said.

Modi said the scientific community has so far not been able to invent any medicine or vaccine for the COVID-19.

"When there is no medicine for the disease, we have to be healthy and protect ourself," he added.

Modi's advice on combating COVID-19:

"We have to be responsible citizens and respect the health advisory directed by the Centre and state governments," said he.

He urged citizens to maintain social isolation and avoid large gathering for coming weeks.

"Those who are above the age of 60 years, please stay indoors for the coming few weeks," Modi directed as the death toll from the virus outbreak largely includes elderly.

Modi calls for 'Janata Curfew':

Modi took the opportunity to announce Janata Curfew on coming Sunday, March 22 and urged everyone to remain indoor to help protect community spread of the disease which is right now on Stage 2 (virus infecting people with travel history or others coming in close contact with the ones coming from abroad) in India.

"We need 'Janata curfew' right now which means people have to stay indoors," the PM announced.

"This Sunday from 7 AM to 9 PM, all citizens must observe Janata curfew. This small step will be taken for the welfare of the country," he said.

Economic Task Force:

Modi also announced that an Economic COVID-19 Task Force has been constituted to tackle the economic challenge posed by the virus outbreak.

"It will decide the course of action to help people recover from this vulnerable situation," said he.

Modi thanks emergency service sector:

PM Modi also thanked all those service sector employees like medical practitioners, health and sanitation workers, delivery agents and so on who are regularly doing their duties without fearing that the infection might affect them.

"On Sunday evening at 5 pm, 22nd March, we will thank all those people who serve us during difficult times without bothering about their own health," he said.

PM Modi's urge for not panic buying:

The PM also urged people to act sensitively and not hoard food stocks fearing that supplies would go out of the market.

"I urge people to not go into panic mode and hoard groceries for the future as there will be a regular supply of all essential items including food, milk and medicines," said he.

India bans international flight landing from Mar 22:

In a slew of measures taken to combat the deadly Novel Coronavirus, the government has banned the landing of all international commercial flights in India for a week beginning on Mar 22, asked states to enforce work from home for private employees apart from advising citizens above 65 and children below 10 years of age to remain indoors.

The government said in an advisory, "No scheduled international commercial passenger aircraft shall be allowed to land in India from March 22, 2020 for one week."

In a major announcement, the Centre on Thursday requested the states to enforce work from home for private employees except for emergency services.

In another advisory, the government said, "To reduce crowding all Group B and Group C central government employees will be asked to attend offices on alternative week and staggered timings for all employees."

MEA strengthening COVID-19 control room:

The Ministry of External Affairs(MEA) on Thursday announced further strengthening of its 24x7 control rooms to ensure smooth coordination and redressal of specific queries from the people.

At a special media briefing on Covid-19, Additional Secretary and Coordinator for Covid-19, Dammu Ravi said the control room attended to about 1355 calls and 522 e-mails since the evening of March 17.

He said that on an average the control room was getting 400 mails and 1,000 calls daily.

He added that 25-30 people were working on 8-hour shifts but their strength was being augmented.

India records fourth Coronavirus death from Punjab:

The death toll in Novel Coronavirus increased to four in India as a patient passed away in the northern state of Punjab on Thursday.

According to reports, a 70-year old man died in Punjab.

The man had a travel history to Germany and Italy.

Earlier, three people had died in Karnataka, Delhi and Maharashtra.

Across the country, 186 people including the cured and deaths have been infected with COVID-19. However, the government data claimed the number of infected people are 175.

Out of 186, 15 people have recovered.