NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asked all Indians to stay home on Sunday between 7 am and 9pm to fight the rapidly-spreading coronavirus. “Janta curfew (People’s curfew) – Janta curfew for the people, janta curfew by the people, self imposed janta curfew on 22 March between 7am and 9pm. All citizens should follow janta curfew. No citizen should step out or congregate," he said in an address to the nation.

Modi cautioned that India could not be immune to the global pandemic caused by the coronavirus. He said social distancing was very important in such times. He said taking “sankalp and sanyam" (pledge and patience) were two important features to conquer the virus.

“Complacency will be our undoing," he said ahead of appealing to the nation to strictly adhere to “social distancing."

Dipping into the social capital he earned after winning a re-election in 2019, PM Modi sought to enlist citizens as stakeholders in the battle against the Corona epidemic.

“The world is passing through a grave crisis. Natural calamities prior to this have been restricted to a few countries. But this infection has engulfed the whole world," he said adding that World Wars 1 & 2 did not engulf so many countries as this crisis had.

The coronavirus pandemic has currently engulfed 159 countries infecting more than 222,000 people and claiming more than 9,000 lives.

In countries with major incidence of infections, after a few cases in the beginning, there has been an explosion in the number of cases, he said.

“Some countries are there that have taken needed decisions and have kept their people isolated," Modi said adding anyone who thinks that COVID-19 could not affect India were wrong. “Two things are needed in this situation," Modi said adding that these were “determination and patience."

To curb the spread of coronavirus, “130 crore Indians have to become determined. They have say they fulfil our duty fully, obey the directions of the state and central government. They have to say we will take steps to prevent getting infected and will protect others from getting infected."

“If we are healthy the world is healthy," Modi said adding social distancing was key given that there was no vaccine as yet to stop the disease.

“I appeal that in the coming few weeks only those who really have to, step out (of their homes). As much as possible, work and do business from home," he said. He urged those between 60-65 years and older to not leave their homes.

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