PM Modi Speech On Coronavirus: Janta Curfew, Covid-19 Task Force, And Other Key Highlights  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today called for a self-imposed Janta curfew to be observed by Indians on Sunday, March 22.

Modi urged Indians to stay at home from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, in a live broadcast to the nation today. “The citizen curfew will go towards proving our self-restraint and help us in future situations.”

The prime minister also said that a task force will be constituted under the Finance Minister to look ensure all steps are taken to reduce economic difficulties. The task force will make timely interventions for all economic sections of the society, Modi said.

The prime minister also urged Indians to practice social distancing as it is being touted as one of the most effective ways of curbing the spread of the virus. He added that with no cure or vaccine, distancing would be the best way for now.

He also appealed to citizens to come to their doorsteps or balconies at 5 p.m. on Sunday to appreciate the work of those involved in healthcare, sanitation and all other essential services. “Come to your balconies and courtyards and streets and applaud, ring bells, bang on thalis for those who are working day and night.”

Citizens also need not panic and start hoarding groceries and food items, Modi said. The supply of all such items will not be disrupted, he said.

Modi said that the Covid-19 pandemic is a crisis that has impacted the globe in a way even more than the two World Wars. He said there will be an impact of the pandemic on India and it would be foolhardy to think otherwise. The prime minister said that resolve and discipline would be the key to fighting the virus.

“This crisis is so big and global that all Indians need to combat the situation with resolve,” Modi said. “Saving ourselves from Covid-19 needs to be the primary priority in our lives. The human race and Indians need to win this fight.”

Watch the full speech here.

The virus outbreak comes at a time when India's economy was already ailing under one of the worst slowdown seen in the last five years.

India is considering offering easier loan repayment terms and tax breaks for small-and medium-sized companies to help Asia’s third-largest economy weather the onslaught of the coronavirus, according to a Bloomberg report.

The Finance Ministry is considering extending loan tenors and relaxing bad-debt norms for small firms, the report said. Other measures may include removing the goods and services tax for hospitality and tourism companies and giving loan repayment relief to commercial vehicle aggregators.

Sectors ranging from travel and tourism to retail and hospitality are taking a hit as social distancing becomes the norm to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.

The lockdowns, in some cases partial and in others total, are likely to first hit contract workers across many of these industries. To counter this, economists are now calling for some form of cash transfers to support those who have lost their source of income, even if temporarily.

The biggest impact of the slowdown in business is expected on MSME entities in retailing, tourism and transportation, self-employed workers in the gig economy and contract workers in the informal economy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 8 P.M. tonight about the novel coronavirus outbreak in India.

The prime minister's address comes after the confirmed cases of Covid-19 spiked to 169 on Thursday. Four deaths have been confirmed. Yesterday, Modi chaired a high-level meeting to review the steps being taken to control the spread of the virus.

Most Indian states have put in place restrictions on public gatherings to tackle the spread of the virus. Schools and colleges have been shut. In some states, even malls, pubs, night clubs and cinema halls have been directed to close. Most offices are urging employees to work from home.

India has allowed private labs to start testing for Covid-19 speed up the process of identifying the scale of the outbreak. There are currently 72 functional ICMR laboratories in the government sector for testing. Another 49 more will be active by the end of the month.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the whole world is undergoing a severe crisis, one that wasn’t seen even during the World Wars.

Most crises are limited to a few countries or region but this crisis affects the entire human race around the world, Modi said.

Over the last few days, people have been behaving like nothing has happened and everything is fine, Modi said. This impression is inaccurate, every citizen needs to be alert, he said.

Modi said that there is no cure or vaccine for the Covid-19 yet. In such a situation it is very natural to see increased anxiety, he said.

Modi said that it will be ignorant to think that India will not be impacted by a problem that’s plaguing the world right now. “The Government of India is keeping a close watch on this situation, this track record of the spread of coronavirus,” Modi said.

Modi said that social distancing is absolutely necessary to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

“So I urge all the countrymen that for the next few weeks. Get out of your house only when it is very important,” Modi said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that patience and discipline are the two things required to curb the spread of the virus.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for a self-imposed ‘Janta’ curfew on Sunday, starting from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

He appealed that people not go out of their houses during the curfew.

Sunday’s citizen curfew will go towards proving our self-restraint, help in future situations, Modi said.

PM Modi said that citizens should try and not go to hospitals for routine check-ups. Instead, they should just call their doctors over the phone for a consultation. It is important that the healthcare system is not stretched, Modi said.

PM Modi said that it has been decided to constitute a task force under the finance minister to ensure all steps are taken to reduce economic difficulties.

The task force will make timely interventions for all economic sections of the society, Modi said.