1.3 billion Indians ordered to stay home in 21-day national lockdown
NEW DELHI — Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced a “total lockdown” for 21 days in India, the world’s biggest stay-at-home order in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic.
“From 12 midnight the entire country will go under a complete lockdown. Seeing the situation as it stands, the lockdown will be for 21 days — three weeks,” Modi said in a televised address.
He said the move, involving the world’s second-most populous country with 1.3 billion inhabitants, was in accordance with the opinion of health experts who advised the measure was necessary to break the cycle of infections.
“If we don’t handle these 21 days well, the country will be set back by 21 years. Many families will be destroyed forever. … So forget about leaving home in the next 21 days. If you cross the threshold of your door, you will invite the dreaded pandemic home.”
He said the government had also set aside 150 billion rupees ($2 billion) to strengthen the health infrastructure.
Amid reports that Indians were venturing out on Tuesday night to stock food items and essentials, Modi appealed to people not to resort to panic-buying.
The federal government and states were working to ensure that essential commodities and medicines would not be disrupted, he said.
The home ministry in an order clarified that grocery shops, pharmacies, banks and petrol pumps will remain open. Government establishments providing utilities will be functioning as usual.
India has been gradually expanding on a lockdown over the past few days.
People in many Indian states had severe movement restrictions placed on them since Monday but it was not a complete lockdown and the duration had not been specified. All transport including domestic and international flights, railways and inter-state buses have been stopped.
India has a total of 508 positive cases of COVID-19 after a surge in cases over the weekend, data released by the Health Ministry showed. Ten people have died.
Modi said India was at a critical stage where even a single misstep could lead to the deadly virus spreading like wildfire.
Health experts have expressed concerns that without stringent measures like social distancing and quarantine, the pandemic may take frightening proportions in India.
The government has so far maintained that there is no evidence yet of a community outbreak of the virus, which would make it harder to contain.
“Some think social distancing is only for patients. That’s not correct. Social distancing is the only way to fight the virus. It is for every citizen, every family, every member, even for the prime minister,” Modi said.
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