Modi Speech Live: Prime Minister Says Indians Shouldn’t Forget Covid-19 Outbreak Isn’t Over Yet
Follow the prime minister’s broadcast to the nation live here.
Watch Live: Prime Minister's Address To The Nation
Don't Let Your Guard Down Till There's A Vaccine, Says Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that a lot of work is going on the vaccine development front in India to tackle Covid-19.
But Indians need to keep their defences up till a vaccine arrives, Modi said.
This Is Not The Time To Be Irresponsible: Modi
Modi highlighted the second wave of Covid-19 that is emerging in Europe and U.S. and said that Indians need to stay on their toes to avoid a repeat in India.
“This is not the time to think that Covid-19 is gone. Or that there is no danger from it. In recent days we saw a lot of images and videos that show that many people have stopped taking precautions, or become lax towards it.
If you are irresponsible, going out without masks, then you are putting yourself and your families in danger.Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Lockdown Is Over, Outbreak Isn't: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Indians to continue following social distancing norms and other preventive measures as the Covid-19 outbreak is not over yet.
“We need to remember that the lockdown is over, but the virus is still here,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation through a broadcast at 6 p.m. today.
This will be Modi’s seventh address to the country since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown. It comes as the festive season kick-starts. The prime minister has often taken to televised address to announce major decisions or developments.
In his last such address, on June 30, Modi announced an extension of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana to provide free ration for over 80 crore people, mostly poor. The scheme runs until the end of November.
Modi’s address comes at a time Covid-19 cases in India have been on a downward trajectory. On Tuesday, India reported its lowest daily cases tally in nearly three months. An expert panel of scientists, tasked by the government to assess the outbreak, has said India is past its peak and the virus may be contained by February 2021.
On Saturday, Modi held a meeting to review the research and development of a vaccine against Covid-19. The prime minister lauded efforts in vaccine development made till now and assured stakeholders that the government will continue to support research.