Lockdown over, but virus still there, says PM Modi in address to nation

Tuesday 20th October 2020 15:59 EDT
 
 

In his seventh address to the nation since the coronavirus outbreak, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the lockdown might have been lifted in the country but the “virus is still out there”. “In this festive season, markets are bright again but we need to remember that the lockdown might have ended but Covid-19 still persists. With efforts of every Indian over last 7-8 months, India is in a stable situation we must not let it deteriorate,” PM Modi said.

“Many people have stopped taking precautions now. This is not right. If you are careless, walking out without a mask, then you are putting yourself, your family, your family’s children, the elderly in as much trouble,” he added.

Modi has addressed the nation a number of times during the Covid-19 crisis in which he has spoken about various measures, including lockdown, being taken to curb the pandemic and also announced economic and welfare packages. In his last such address, he had on June 30 announced extension of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), a programme to provide free ration for over 800 million people, mostly poor, by five more months till November end.

Meanwhile, ahead of PM’s address, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asked him to tell the nation the date by which he will “throw the Chinese out of Indian territory”.

India on Tuesday reported less than 50,000 new cases for the first time in nearly three months. With 46,790 new cases reported across the country, the coronavirus infection has now affected close to 7.6 million people in India. As many as 587 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, taking the toll to 1,15,197.


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