Modi to address people of India on coronavirus

Amid growing number of confirmed coronavirus cases in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on March 19 (8 pm IST) to update the citizens on the ongoing efforts against coronavirus and also to urge them to adhere to the preventive measures. On March 18, he had chaired a high-level meeting to review the ongoing efforts. During his address on March 19, PM Modi will talk about the risks from Covid-19 and the efforts being undertaken by the government to contain the infection. At the review meeting, he had discussed ways to strengthen India’s preparedness, including increasing the number of Covid-19 testing facilities, the government said in a statement. Modi emphasized on actively engaging local communities and organisations in efforts to curb the spread. He also urged the officials and subject experts to deliberate on the next steps to prevent further escalation of the situation, the statement said. Since its outbreak in China last year, Covid-19 has spread to over 160 countries, infecting more than 200,000 people and killing 8,249 people, according to various news reports. In India, there have been three deaths so far: one each in Karnataka, Delhi, and Maharashtra. PM Modi has also pushed for a G-20 leaders’ virtual summit to discuss the coronavirus situation globally to advance a joint fight against the pandemic, which has hurt the global economy as well.