PM Modi instructs India to lock down for 21 days

In a bid to ward off Coronavirus, PM Shri Narendra Modi ordered a 21 day pan-Indian lockdown. Following the PM’s address to the nation, the Home Ministry on Tuesday released detailed guidelines on the measures to be taken central and state level to contain Covid-19 epidemic. 

According to the guidelines, all shops selling essentials — such as grocery, milk, vegetables, fruit, meat, fish, as well as chemists, ATMs, banks, gas, petrol pumps etc — to remain open during 21 days lockdown. Barring the police, utilities, fire and emergency services, prisons, and municipal bodies, the Centre has decided to close down all its and state governments’ offices, public corporations.

“Hospitals and all related medical establishments, including their manufacturing and distribution units – both in public and private sector such as dispensaries, chemists, medical equipment shops, laboratories, clinics, ambulance etc. will continue to remain functional,” it stated. There government has clarified that there will be no shortage of essential commodities during the 3-week lockdown. 

“There will be no shortage of essential commodities during the 21-day lockdown. Central govt along with all state govts making adequate efforts to deal with the situation,” stated Home Minister Amit Shah.