Coronavirus: India Imposes A Nationwide Lockdown On It’s 1.3 Billion Population

The 2nd most populous country in the world India has imposed a nationwide lockdown on the country’s 1.3 billion population, in a preventive attempt to curb the dangerous put spread of the deadly novel Coronavirus {COVID-19}. Coronavirus COVID-19 India

India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi made the announcement during a live televised state of the nation address on Tuesday evening, saying restrictions will be applied from midnight local time (18:30 GMT) and the lockdown will be in place for the next 21 days and it applies to all of the 36 states and territories all over India.

“From 12 midnight today [1830 GMT Tuesday], the entire country will be in lockdown, total lockdown,”
“To save India, to save its every citizen, you, your family…every street, every neighbourhood is being put under lockdown,” he said, putting nearly one-fifth of the world’s population under lockdown.
“You have seen the worldwide situations arising from the coronavirus pandemic in the news. You have also seen how the most powerful nations have become helpless in the face of this pandemic,”

Modi said that the measures are necessary to protect the population of 1.3bn people from the virus as he referred to experience from other countries.

“What the experts are saying is that social distancing is the only option to combat coronavirus. That is to remain apart from each other and stay confined to within your homes. There is no other way to remain safe from coronavirus. If we have to stop the spread, we have to break the cycle of infection,” he said.
He also stated that only essential services will be operational and these include water, electricity, health services, fire services, groceries, and municipal services, but all shops, commercial establishments, factories, workshops, offices, markets and places of worship will be totally closed.

The country has confirmed 519 coronavirus cases, including 10 deaths and 39 patients who have been cured, according to the Ministry of Health. Photo Credit: Getty

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