When some of us were suffering from coronavirus and some of us were busy sharing memes on the internet and spreading rumors about it, our Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to address the whole nation on COVID-19. So that people will stop spreading rumors and be more careful. Coronavirus cases are increasing day by day, so PM Modi requested everyone to maintain certain restrictions.
On Thursday, 19th March 2020, at 8:00 pm, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the whole nation on coronavirus from New Delhi. During his speech, he said that for India and other developing countries, coronavirus is not a normal situation. So, everyone must remain aware and alert about this. PM Modi urged everyone to maintain social distancing and avoid hoarding groceries and panic buying.
In his 29-minutes speech, he asked everyone, except those in government jobs and medical facilities, to stay at home as much as possible, and he requested everyone to avoid going to hospitals for regular check-ups. He also requested all to postpone appointments of non-essential surgery. It should be kept in mind that pressure should not come on the hospitals. If anybody has any urgent issue, then he/she should consult their family doctors.
PM Modi appealed to every citizen to not indulge in panic buying and assured that the supply of essential services like food items would not be affected.
The most important point was that he asked people to observe a ‘janata curfew’ on Sunday, March 22, from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm. Everyone has to follow the ‘janata curfew’, and if possible, call at least ten people and tell them about this ‘janata curfew’. During the ‘janata curfew’, people are requested to stay at home and avoid public spaces for 14 hours. But those who are working in police, medical services, media, fire department and serving the nation need not take part in the Janata curfew.
For the last two months, many people are working almost 24 hours in hospitals and airports without taking care of themselves. PM Modi urged everyone, on 22nd March, at 5:00 pm, to stand on their balconies, doors or windows and keep clapping and ringing the bells for five minutes to appreciate their efforts. Spain and Italy did the same for their workers. People who were under lockdown gave a massive round of applause to their health workers.
He requested all the companies to take care of their employees and not deduct their salaries for this duration, because employees also need the money to keep their families safe. The government has set up COVID-19 Economic Response Task Force under the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. This task force will remain in touch with the stakeholders, take their feedback and make decisions accordingly.
In his 29 minutes long speech, Modi requested the citizens, especially senior citizens to stay at home as much as possible, because the deadly virus has claimed over 9000 lives around the world, and currently, there is no vaccination. The whole world is suffering from the coronavirus. Everyone is living in fear because no one knows how it can be cured. So, it is better to cooperate and follow the steps to protect ourselves.