Lockdown should be last resort, efforts on to ramp up oxygen supply: PM Modi on Covid19 address to nation

Addressing the nation over the grim Covid situation in the country and amid a shortage of oxygen supply, Modi said: "We have to save our country from lockdown and I appeal to states to think of lockdown as the last resort. We should rather focus on micro-containment zones."

"We have to take care of our economy as well as save our citizens from the virus," he said.

"I am aware of the hardships you are facing. I extend my condolences to those who have lost a loved one."

PM Modi noted that some states are facing oxygen shortage during a time when the country is reporting over 2 lakh cases daily.In his address, he said: "Oxygen demand is high and we are attending to it with full priority. We are trying to make it available to all. We are trying to increase production."

"Last year the situation was grim and we did not have an appropriate medical infrastructure to fight the virus but this year we are in a better position. Our pharma sector has increased the production of medicines."

"More medicines are being produced now than in January and February," he assured.

The PM also said that efforts are being made to increase beds across the country. "Big and special Covid hospitals are being built," he added.

The Prime Minister said that India has manufactured the world's cheapest vaccines. 
"We are conducting the world's biggest vaccination drive in the world and ensuring that it reaches the maximum number of people who need it," he said.

He said vaccines have been made in line with India's cold storage facilities. The regulatory processes and approvals have been fast-tracked, the Prime Minister said.

"Because of this team effort, India could launch the world's biggest inoculation drive with two made-in-India vaccines," Modi said adding that half of the vaccines produced in India would reach the states and hospitals now on.

Modi also took the opportunity to make an appeal to the youth in shouldering the responsibility of creating awareness on Coronavirus appropriate behaviour in their locality and prevent people from venturing out unless it is too urgent.

"I appeal to the youth to spread awareness on the Covid situation so that there is no need to make containment zones or curfew and obviously no question of lockdown," said the PM.

"My young friends can create awareness in your own locality so that people do not step out without any urgent need. Try to create an environment of Covid appropriate behaviour and stop people from panicking," Modi urged.

In his concluding message, Modi reiterated the need for "dawai bhi kadai bhi" (Medicines and Strictures both are essential).

He also thanked the Covid warriors for their relentless effort in combating the virus.

In a grim situation, India recorded 1761 deaths due to Covid-19 between Monday and Tuesday mornings, a massive spike in the casualty figure registered in the country during the period of a single day, as per Ministry of Health released data.

The country also recorded 2,59,170 new cases in the past 24 hours.

The total death toll due to the virus in the country now stands at 1,80,530.