New Delhi:
Pime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced the formation of a COVID-19 Economic Response Task Force led by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to deal with the situation arising out of novel coronavirus outbreak.
"Keeping in mind the economic challenges arising out of the coronavirus epidemic, the government has decided to constitute COVID-19 Economic Response Task Force led by the Finance Minister. This task force will also ensure that all steps are taken to reduce the economic difficulties and execute them effectively," Modi said in his address to the nation.
He said that the task force will remain in regular touch with all stakeholders, take their feedback and make decisions accordingly.
The Prime Minister requested the citizens to avoid visiting hospitals for routine check ups. "If you have an appointment for any non-essential surgery, please postpone for one month. We should keep in mind that pressure should not come on hospitals," he said.
"Postpone elective surgeries by a month, avoid routine check-ups to ease pressure on health services," the Prime Minister added
Modi made a fervent appeal to all Indians to stay indoors as much as possible to avoid getting infected by coronavirus, saying the world has never seen a danger as grave as this.
He called for 'Janta curfew' on March 22 from 7 am-9 pm, saying no citizen, barring those in essential services, should get out of house.
"Even World War I and II did not affect as many countries as coronavirus has done," Modi said in a national broadcast.
Asking people to sacrifice "some weeks of yours, some time of yours", Modi said given that coronavirus has no cure yet, the only way to stay safe is to stay indoors.
"I request all people in country to get out of house only when it is extremely necessary, try and do all work from home," he said.
For a developing country like India with 130 cr population the growing challenge of coronavirus is not a normal situation. It will be wrong to assume that this will not have any impact on India. First is resolve and the second is restraint. he said.
Key points :
-Urge all senior citizens between the age of 65-70 to stay at home,
-To deal with coronavirus, no definite solution has been found, nor has any vaccine produced,
-Social distancing is important and effective. Please stay at home–work from home to the extent possible, please refrain from non-essential gathering and get out of house only when it is extremely necessary,
– Appeal for a janta curfew on Sunday, March 22. Urge people to stay at home from 7 am to 9 pm to curb the coronavirus,
– Social distancing extremely important and effective in reducing impact of coronavirus,
-I ask local administration to clap and ring bells at 5 pm on March 22 as a form of gratitude to the workers who are fighting the coronavirus,
– On Mar 22 at 5 pm, we should thank people like doctors, medical personnel, cleaning staff, for their service,
-I request people to avoid going to hospitals for routine check-up to ease pressure on medical staff,
– Keeping in mind economic challenges arising out of coronavirus, govt has decided to form COVID-19 Economic Response Task Force,
– PM asks people to avoid panic buying, says they should not hoard essential items like food and medicine