In the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, the government of India had imposed a 21-day lockdown on 24th March 2020. The lockdown has played a major role in containing the spread of the virus in the country. In fact, according to a study by ICMR, if there were no lockdown, considering the nature of the virus, there would have been more than 8 lakh cases of COVID-19 in India against the current around 10K.
Taking into account the rapid spread of the virus, and the effectiveness of the lockdown strategy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on April 14 and announced the extension of the lockdown period. After extensive discussion with the states, the Prime Minister made the decision to extend the lockdown period till May 3rd, which was originally supposed to end by April 15th.
In his address, PM Narendra Modi has given seven commandments which would help in the containment of the virus and urged the citizens of the country to show support for them. These seven commandments are:
Protection of the elderly
According to studies, it has been established that the elderly are at the greatest risk of and dying if infected with this virus. Especially people with underlying health conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases or diabetes. In order to protect the elderly from being victims of the deadly virus, PM Modi has urged the citizens to protect and take care of the elderly citizens of the country.
Social Distancing and Use of Home-made masks
The key to breaking the chain of the spread of the virus is isolation and social distancing. For this reason, the PM has urged the citizens to follow the lockdown rules and practice social distancing. Additionally, it is important for people to avoid touching their face, eyes and nose all the time. This is a habit that is difficult to give up for many because these actions are subconscious. For this reason, the PM has asked to make use of home-made masks at all times, which might help in the prevention of the further spread of the virus as people tend to not touch their faces as often if there is a mask.
Following Guidelines by Ministry of AYUSH
The virus attacks and affects a person with low immunity severely. This is why the Ministry of AYUSH has provided guidelines which people can follow which can help them boost their immunity. The PM has urged the citizens to follow the guidelines such as drinking hot water, consuming ‘kadha’ and so on, to boost their immunity.
Download Aarogya Setu App
The government has launched the Aarogya Setu App to help citizens identify fake news and myths surrounding the virus. The app also helps in self-diagnoses, notifies people if there is a positive case in their area and all the preventive steps the citizens should be taking at the time of the pandemic.
Help the Poor
The poor of the country, the homeless, the daily wagers are suffering the most in present times. Many are stranded away from their families and have no food, accommodation or money to survive. The government is making efforts to provide them with basic necessities. The corporates and non-profits are also working in the same direction. The PM has asked for the citizens to also support the poor to ensure that no one loses their life over things such as food and shelter.
Compassion for Employees
The poor of the country are bearing the biggest brunt during the lockdown. While the government has been taking necessary steps through its PM Gareeb Kalyaan Yojana, the PM has urged the employers to show compassion towards their employees, and not fire them during these difficult times. He as also urged them to proactively look after the interests of their poor employees.
Respect Healthcare, Police and the Sanitation workers
The country would be in no position to fight the virus in the absence of these heroes working day and night, staying away from their families and risking their lives. It is only right for the citizens to show them respect and gratitude instead of abusing them and hindering their work. The PM has urged to stand in solidarity for these heroes and show them the respect that they deserve.
