PM to State’s: Lockdown as last resort, focus more on micro-containment zones to contain Covid-19

Government has speeded up measures to ramp up health infrastructure, increasing hospital beds, testing facilities, ramping up medicine and vaccine production

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Mumbai: At a time when Maharashtra government is mulling over imposing strict lockdown from April 21, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a televised address to the nation advised State Governments to use Lockdown as the last resort. He called upon the State Governments to instead focus more on Micro-containment Zones to contain the spread of Coronavirus.

Reiterating his catch phrase “Dawai bhi aur Kadai bhi” (medicine also and strictness too), the Prime Minister urged the youth and young ones who had lent support to his Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, to once again form small committees of their own in their respective housing societies to inculcate and spread awareness of Covid appropriate behaviour so that imposition of curfew is not needed. He urged the people not to venture out of their homes without any official work.

Lauding the role of the media for spreading awareness about the Covid-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that the media needs to end the fear psychosis amongst the people and save lives.

Commenting upon the issue of shortage of medicines, beds in hospitals and medical infrastructure, the Prime Minister disclosed that the government has begun to address the issue by ramping up the pace of upgrading the medical, health infrastructure like constructing more hospitals, increasing beds in hospitals, increasing testing facilities.

He said that the country has come a long way since last year after the pandemic broke out in production of masks, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The Prime Minister lauded the scientists for developing two of the world’s cheapest vaccines.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that the Pharma sector has increased its production capacities of various Covid drugs. He said that steps are being taken to set up more special jumbo Covid facilities. The Prime Minister added that in view of the rise in demand for medical oxygen, steps have been taken to ensure that the centre, state and private sector hospitals get adequate supply of oxygen through measures like Oxygen Express of the railways.

Pointing to the labour class, especially migrant workers, the Prime Minister urged the state government to insist on the urban workforce to stay put where they are so that they get vaccinated where they are. He stated that the state governments need to reassure the labour force and keep their faith and hope alive.

Commenting upon the major decision taken yesterday of allowing vaccination drive for all those above the age of 18 years from May 1, he said that it will go a long way in addressing the vaccination of the young labour force. Referring to the liberalised vaccine production, he said that the production will now be shared between the centre, state and the hospitals.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi further added that the government’s vaccination drive for all those above the age of 45 years shall continue as before. The government hospitals shall continue to give free vaccination to the poor, weaker sections, the lower middle class and those who cannot afford to pay for it.