Public Transport Halted, Schools Shut; How 14 States in India Prepared Ground For Lockdown to Fight COVID-19?

New Delhi: As many as 14 states and 80 districts across India enforced lockdown to contain COVID-19 epidemic, which has claimed more than 10,000 lives globally. However, the restrictions were not impo

New Delhi: As many as 14 states and 80 districts across India enforced lockdown to contain COVID-19 epidemic, which has claimed more than 10,000 lives globally. However, the restrictions were not imposed just in a day. The central as well as the state governments had hinted at the urgency in many ways earlier.

While PM Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation, asked people to avoid coming out of homes as much as possible, CMs of states had issued multiple advisories which hinted at partial lockdowns. “Restrain is compulsory to protect ourselves and remain healthy. I request that for the coming weeks people should go out of their homes only if essential,” PM Modi had said on March 19.

Besides, the Prime Minister’s Office, and Chief Ministers were also seen working via video conferencing to maximise social distancing.

Yesterday,  a total of 14 states – Maharashtra, Kerala, Haryana, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Punjab, Delhi, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand announced lockdown to contain COVID-19 spread.

So far 22 states and union territories have seen COVID-19 cases. Only Goa, Jharkhand, the eight north-eastern states have not reported any case so far. Along with Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Andaman, and Lakshadweep.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi had also asked citizens to take the statewide lockdowns seriously. Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, he said many people are still not taking the lockdown seriously. “Please save yourself, save your family, follow the instructions seriously. I request the state governments to get the rules and laws followed”,  tweeted Modi.