Coronavirus: 2,95,041 cases were reported in a day; lockdown should be the last resort, says PM
New Delhi: The MoHFW reported 2,95,041 new cases while 1,66,520 recuperated in the last 24 hours. The nation’s death toll rose to 1,82,570 after 2023 deaths were logged in a single day.
The record hike has taken India’s Covid caseload to 1,56,16,130. Meanwhile, a total of 1,32,76,039 people have recovered the virus. Currently, There are 21,57,538 active cases in the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in an address to the nation on Tuesday night, cited lockdown as the last resort to break the infection chain. He appealed to the states to impose lockdown if all guidelines issued in view of the surge do not help curb the spread. He stressed self-discipline to fight the infection, urging the citizens to stay indoors as much as possible.
“We should prevent a lockdown. If you all work together, create awareness then there is no need for containment, never mind a lockdown. I appeal to states that they should use the lockdown as the last resort – our focus should be micro-containment zones. We will take care of economic health as well as the health of countrymen,” PM Modi said in his address last evening. He clearly stated nationwide lockdown was off the records, while ensuring enough oxygen, bed, and vaccine.
Hours after the PM’s address, Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain flagged a huge oxygen shortage at another key hospital in the city. Guru Teg Bahadur hospital run by the Delhi government has supplies for only four hours, the minister said. The state recorded 28,395 new infections in the last 24 hours and 277 deaths.
The KCR-led government announced a night curfew shortly after the State CM tested positive for COVID. The state has announced strict action against those violating the law.
Karnataka also joins the category of states that declared night curfew and weekends. The curfew will begin at 9 pm on Friday and continue till 6 am on Monday.
PM Modi held a meeting with vaccine manufacturers on Tuesday to review the pace of manufacturing. Following which he also held a meeting with chief ministers of all states to discuss the strategy to combat the second wave of COVID-19.