Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country will go under lockdown starting midnight for 21 days. (Illustration)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday announced a full country-wide lockdown, starting from midnight, till 21 days. “If we are not able to manage the upcoming 21 days, we will be pushed back 21 years,” the PM said in an address to the nation. The number of cases in India has risen to 536, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) confirmed. The death toll across the country stands at 10.
Minutes after the PM’s declaration, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) clarified ration shops dealing with food, groceries, fruits and vegetables, dairy and milk booths, meat and fish, animal fodder will remain open during the lockdown. The list of exemptions includes delivery of all essential goods, petrol pumps, ATMs and more.
Centre has also warned of legal action against those violating the lockdown which has been enforced till March 31 to curtail the pandemic. Violators could either face a fine of Rs 1,000 or a jail term of six months if they do not abide by the lockdown orders, the government said. All domestic commercial flights would remain suspended from Wednesday to restrict inter-state movement as a precautionary measure.
Globally, 16,572 people have died due to the pandemic and a total of 381,293 positive cases have been confirmed. While Italy has reported the highest number of deaths at 6,077 and the number of positive cases at 63,927, China has reported 3,153 deaths and 81,514 cases so far. Also, Spain has reported 2,311 deaths, Iran 1,812, France 860 and UK 335.
On December 31, 2019, China informed the world about the mysterious pneumonia sweeping through Hubei. On January 7, 2020, COVID-19 was identified. A day later, the first meeting of the joint monitoring group was held in India. In effect, that is when India’s preparation started — one of the earliest starts by any country. The first COVID-19 case was reported on January 30. Fifty-three days later, the government announced an allocation to ramp up medical infrastructure, including ventilators. Read more
In just nine days, the number of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases detected in India has jumped from 100 to over 500. While it was 110 on March 15, the count stood at 519 on Tuesday, of which 39 have recovered. With one more death in Delhi, the toll is now 10. While the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare confirmed the death in Delhi, it did not give any details. Read here
After Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for a nationwide lockdown on Tuesday night, people panicked and rushed to grocery shops to stock up on essential items. Below is a picture from a grocery shop in Kurla in Mumbai.
(Express Photo by Pradip Das)
Customers started behaving oddly about a week ago visibly dejected street vendor Frank Mojapelo said Some were wary to exchange cash Some backed away or refused to touch him Now an unprecedented lockdown looms in South Africa over the coronavirus with a country of 57 million people told to stay home starting Friday Virus cases leapt again to 554 on Tuesday the most of any country in Africa Fortythree of the continents 54 countries now have cases with the total at 2046 the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. (AP)
After Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide lockdown for 21 days, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said that nobody should gather in large numbers on the streets and in shops. "I have spoken to PM Narendra Modi. The rules announced by the state government will remain applicable and essential commodities and services will continue to remain open."
The number of cases in India has risen to 536, the Indian Council of Medical Research said.
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath has asked people to not step out of their houses as essential commodities including — vegetables, milk, fruits, medicines and the likes will be delivered to people's doorsteps from Wednesday. "From tomorrow vegetables, milk, fruits, medicines and other essential commodities will be delivered to your doorsteps for which we have identified more than 10,000 vehicles. I appeal to you to not go to the market to buy essential items."
"I would like to assure the 23 crore people of Uttar Pradesh that we have enough stock of essential items like vegetables,milk, medicines etc. For the safety of you and your family don't step out of your houses & maintain social distance," he said.
In view of the 21-day nationwide complete lockdown, the Supreme Court has said it will not take up the matter listed before it for tomorrow through video conferencing. The matters are adjourned.
Minutes after the Prime Minister declared the lockdown, people rushed to ration shops, medical stores to buy essential items. Modi has urged people not to panic-buy commodities. "By converging around shops, you are risking the spread of COVID-19," he said.
People in Vadodara, Gujarat throng to petrol to pumps and medical stores after PM Modi declared a 21-day lockdown on the nation. The MHA, in its guidelines, has stated that petrol pumps, LPG, Petroleum gas retail and storage outlets shall remain open during the lockdown. Delivery of pharmaceuticals will remain opened too.
In less than 20 minutes the store in Vadodara had run out of items like wheat, milk powder, sugar, tea, etc. (Express photo: Aditi Raja)
People rush to nearby shops in Kolkata. (Express photo)
Commercial and private establishments shall be closed down, except:
* Ration shops (under PDS) dealing with food, groceries, fruits and vegetables, dairy and milk booths, meat and fish, animal fodder.
* Banks, insurance offices and ATMs.
* Print and electronic media.
* Telecommunications, internet services, broadcasting and cable services. IT and IT enabled servcies (for essential services) and as far as possible to work from home.
* Delivery of all essential goods - food, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment through E-commerce.
* Petrol pumps, LPG, Petroleum gas retail and storage outlets.
* Capital and debt market servcies as notified by SEBI.
* Power generation, transmission, and distribution units and services.
* Cold storage and warehousing services.
*Private security services.
PM Modi says essential commodities, medicines etc. would be available. Centre and various state governments will work in close coordination to ensure this.
Minutes after PM Modi declared a country-wide lockdown starting midnight, people scrambled to nearby shops to buy essentials.
People rush to stores in Vadodara (Express photo)
Shops in Pune witness crowds pouring in after PM's announcement on lockdown (Express photo)
The Ministry of Home Affairs will shortly issue guidelines of effective measures and exceptions to the essential services during this 21-day lockdown. There will shortly be an MHA 24/7 hotline to assist states during this period.
PM Modi said all essential services will continue and remain functional. The list of essential services will remain unchanged as mentioned on the 'Janata curfew' day.
Hopeful of emerging victorious from this challenge, PM Modi urges people to take care of themselves and their family and requests all not to believe in rumours and superstitions. 'Don't take any medicines without consulting doctors,' PM said.
"Lockdown of 21 days is a long time, but this is important for you and your family's safety. I believe that every Indian will not only successfully tackle this challenge but also emerge victorious in this time of crisis," he says.
PM Modi says, 'Centre has made allocation of Rs 15,000 crore to strengthen health infrastructure to tackle coronavirus. I have requested all states that health services should be first priority in this situation.'
The lumpsum amount has been allocated for the facilitation of testing facilities, PPEs, ICUs, Ventilators and training medical workers.
I have requested the state govenernments to make sure priority is given to healthcare, says PM Modi.