Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced a total lockdown for 21 days in India, the world’s second-most populous nation, to control the spread of the novel coronavirus.
“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 was in accordance with the opinion of health experts that a lockdown for a minimum of 21 days was necessary to break the cycle of infections.
“If we don’t manage these 21 days, the country will be set back by 21 years. Some families will be destroyed forever.”
People in many Indian states had severe movement restrictions placed on them beginning Tuesday but it was not a complete lockdown and the duration had not been specified.
Modi said the government would take care to maintain supply of essential items and services to people.
The total number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in India was nearing 500, with a surge in cases over the weekend.
Nine people have died.
dpa/NAN.
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