The government today asked states to ensure the 21-day lockdown, asking them to help curb the exodus of migrant workers from cities, as the overall number of COVID-19 positive people crossed the 1000 mark.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who declared a 21-day lockdown last week, warned against violation of the restrictions, saying those doing so were "playing with their own lives'. He also apologized for the lockdown decision inconveniencing the poor, but made it clear that it was the need of the hour.
Today, in his radio address at Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi talked extensively about COVID-19.
People who are infected with the disease are being discriminated and they are looked down upon. PM Modi urged people to be more sympathetic towards them and told to maintain social distancing and not emotional distancing.
After PM Modi's address, President Ram Nath Kovind, today pledged to contribute his one month salary to PM-CARES Fund to help fight the coronavirus battle. Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked President Ram Nath Kovind for his generous contribution and said that this will be inspiring for the nation.
A vaccine is still at least 12 to 18 months away, the World Health Organization said, urging the countries to "unite to fight the pandemic together".
