CORONAVIRUS BATTLE
Modi orders Sunday curfew
Tells people to avoid panic buying, stay at home as fourth Covid-19 death reported in Punjab
- Govt declares restricted movement order effective till March 31
- Orders its employees to work from home till April 4
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday ordered the country's 1.3 billion population to follow a one-day curfew to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
Modi said in an address to the nation that the curfew would be on Sunday from 7:00am to 9:00pm to test the giant country's ability to take tough measures against what he called a growing crisis.
The measure would be "in the interest of the country to follow and prepare us for future challenges."
India has reported 173 positive virus cases and four deaths.
The Prime Minister said the government formed task force to assess coronavirus impact on economy. He appealed citizens to stop panic buying, avoid hoarding essential goods as steps taken to ensure no shortage of essential.
"I request all traders - small or large - to also look after the welfare of those whose services you utilise," he said.
He requested people to avoid going to hospital for routine checks, postpone elective surgeries and stay indoors for coming weeks, reports TNN.
"Only if it is absolutely essential, speak to your friendly doctors on phone," he said.
Earlier, the government has declared restricted movement order from 18 to 31 March 2020. The order has come into effect from 12 midnight, 18 March 2020. This was conveyed by an administration notification.
The National Security Council had a coordination meeting between government agencies on 17 March 2020 to ensure the smooth implementation of the Order.
The government has also ordered its employees to work from home in a staggered manner - 50 percent of Group B and C employees will attend office while the rest will log in from their homes - as part of its measures to combat the outbreak.
"All Heads of Departments (HoDs) are advised to draft a weekly roster of duty for Group B and C staff and ask them to attend office on alternate weeks," the notification said.
The staggered hours consist of three time slots: 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, 9:30 am to 6:00 pm and 10:00 am to 6:30 pm. The work from home orders will be in effect till April 4.
The government also blocked roads in Kashmir yesterday after the insurgency-torn region reported its first case of coronavirus, reports Reuters.