Prime Minister Narendra clamped a draconian, nationwide 21-day curfew on the country during which people must not step out of their homes as part of a desperate bid to stamp out Covid-19.

In his second 8pm broadcast in less than a week, the Prime Minister also said the government would pour Rs 15,000 crore to procure a range of medical equipment like ICU beds, ventilators, testing kits and health isolation beds. The money will also be used to bring more doctors, nurses and paramedical staff into the frontlines of the Covid-19 battle.

“Health experts say a minimum of 21 days is most crucial to break the coronavirus cycle,” said Modi, warning that “if we do not break the cycle, this country and your family will be setback by 21 years. Many families will be destroyed forever if we are not able to manage the next 21 days.”

Serious measures

Modi made no effort to sugarcoat the drastic measures he was announcing, saying: “From midnight, the entire country will go under a complete lockdown to save every Indian and there will be a total ban on venturing out of your homes in every state, every Union Territory, every district, every village and every mohalla.” Repeating for emphasis, he said: “This is, in effect, a type of curfew.'

He added: “No doubt this lockdown will entail an economic cost. But saving the life of every Indian is the priority for me.”

Soon after Modi’s speech, the home ministry issued a notice saying that all government offices would be closed for the next three weeks and industrial establishments closed and all transportation services like trains, buses and flights would be suspended. The notice also listed essential industries and services like hospitals, media and home delivery of food and medicines that would remain open.

Social distancing for all

Stressing that while people had followed Sunday’s Janata Curfew diligently, he said the seriousness of the situation had not been driven home to everyone. “Some people are under the misconception that social distancing is only for the ill. It is for every citizen, every family and every member of the family.”

The Prime Minister pointed to the speed of the coronavirus spread around the world and how it had affected the most advanced countries like the US, Germany, Italy, Spain and China, which have sophisticated healthcare systems.

Citing figures from other countries, he noted that the first one lakh cases of Covid-19 had come in 67 days but the figures rose to 2 lakh in just 11 days and then to three lakh in the next four days.

Question marks

Reactions to the Prime Minister’s speech were mixed and many appeared taken aback by the length of the total shutdown. Some rushed out immediately to buy supplies before the midnight curfew came into effect. Through the day, there had been rumours that Modi would announce an “economic emergency” during his broadcast.

The broadcast left huge question marks, including how people would get everything from milk to vegetables and other supplies for the 21-day period. Even more crucially, while Modi acknowledged that the poor would face the greatest difficulties, he gave no indication about what the government would do for them. It’s expected, though, that the government will announce measures to help them in the coming days.

Also, while Modi insisted that a total lockdown was the only way forward, he made only a passing reference to extensive testing which is considered equally crucial to control the spread of Covid-19.

It has been established in countries like South Korea that extensive testing is crucial to defeat coronavirus in addition to the lockdown. In Hong Kong, for instance, the illness resurfaced the moment restrictions on movement were lifted.

Steps to prevent crowding

Any government measures will need to be carefully thought out. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has said that his government won’t be able to set up soup kitchens for the out-of-work poor because that would lead to many people congregating in different places.

The Prime Minister said the state governments should make health services their first priority in the coming months. He also added that the private sector healthcare companies were stepping forward to assist the government’s actions.

Modi ended on a determined note, saying: “This lockdown is for a long time but it is for your own good. We will emerge victorious from this crisis.”