Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday ruled out a countrywide lockdown and urged the states to use the measure as a last resort.

In an address to the nation amid signs that the healthcare system is being overwhelmed in some states, Modi emphasised expanding the vaccination campaign and the health infrastructure.

“Humein desh ko lockdown se bachana hai (We have to save the country from a lockdown),” Modi said in the 20-minute address.

“I would urge the states to use the lockdown as a last resort. Our focus should be on micro-containment zones,” he said. “We will take care of the economic health as well as the health of the countrymen,” he added, betraying fears of the economy getting further crippled if there was a lockdown.

Modi mentioned that Ram Navami falls on Wednesday and hailed the importance of Ramazan while urging people to observe Covid protocols.