Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday addressed the nation at 9 am, a day after he spoke to all the chief ministers via video conferencing.
We need to move from hopelessness to hope, the PM added. “On April 5, we will all come together to give COVID-19 a message. All of us must come together at 9 pm on April 5 for nine minutes to shut their lights and come to your balconies to light a candle, torch or mobile flashlight and leave the rest of the lights off. This is our message that we are fighting COVID-19,” PM Modi said, adding that this will proof to show that nobody is alone. He, however, cautioned Indians to maintain social distancing while the lit the lamps.
“It’s been nine days since the lockdwonand I hail the nation for the way they have adhered to the rules put by the government and stayed indoors,” the PM added.
Saying that this lockdown has set an example for other countries across the world. “The country has become one and can fight COVID-19,” he added.
“With crores of people staying indoors, one point that comes to mind is what will do alone? You probably ask yourself how you will manage alone like this? True, it’s a lockdown period, but we are not alone. We are all with each other,” the PM added.
Watch the video here
Earlier, during his interaction with the CMs, PM Modi said that the States, and the Centre must form common exit strategy once lockdown ends.
PM Modi also outlined that the common goal for the country is to ensure minimum loss of life. In the next few weeks, testing, tracing, isolation and quarantine should remain the areas of focus. He highlighted the necessity of maintaining supply of essential medical products, availability of raw material for manufacture of medicines and medical equipment.
He said it is necessary to ensure availability of separate, dedicated hospital facilities for COVID-19 patients. To increase the availability of doctors, he asked the States to tap into the resource pool of AYUSH doctors, organize online training and utilize para-medical staff, NCC and NSS volunteers.
