Nation Observes ‘Janata Curfew,’ appreciate COVID-19 Warriors , Many States Announce Lockdowns

India on Sunday continued its battle against the deadly coronavirus pandemic as it observed a nationwide ‘Janata Curfew’ today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had, in his address to the nation on Thursday, called upon people to observe a ‘Janata Curfew’ on March 22 and applaud all those fighting the coronavirus pandemic by coming out in balconies and clapping for them for five minutes.

(1.) Prime Minister Modi in his Thursday night address to the nation, people today observed ‘Janata Curfew,’ in what has been described as a ‘mock drill’ to prepare the country for a potential longer lockdown.

(2.) The PM’s call by applauding all those who are leading the country’s fight against the pandemic. While the exercise was to begin at 5 PM and continue for five minutes, it began well before the scheduled time and went on for more than five minutes.

(3.) Before the ‘Janata Curfew’ could conclude at 9 PM, as scheduled, a number of states announced complete or partial lockdowns. These include Delhi, Maharashtra, Bihar, Gujarat, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana etc.

(4.) On the advice of the Centre, 75 districts from various states have been out under lockdown as well; all of the country’s confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported .

(5.) The total number of positive coronavirus cases in India reached 360; three deaths due to the infection have also been reported today. While Maharashtra recorded its second death, Bihar and Gujarat registered their first cases of death due to COVID-19.

(6.) While a 63-year-old man died in Mumbai, a 38-year-old man, who had returned from Qatar, died in Patna. In Gujarat, meanwhile, a 69-year-old man with co-morbid conditions passed away due to the infection.

(7.) Indian Railways, too, has suspended all its passenger services, except goods trains, till March 31. Trains that are currently already on the run, would be allowed to reach their respective destinations. Metro services in various cities, too, have been stopped till March 31.

(8.) Ban on international flights from landing in India, for a week, also kicked in today. Also, after Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, while announcing complete lockdown in Delhi, said that no domestic flights would be allowed to land here, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)) clarified that domestic flights from the capital’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport would continue to remain functional

(9.) A number of political parties, including the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), have directed their MPs to not come to Delhi to attend Parliament tomorrow.