Let’s clear the myth amongst the audience after robust and stringent lockdown for 21 days from 24th March’20,
As India was preparing to build a high-level defense mechanism to break the chain of human transmission of COVID -19, our honorable prime minister Shri. Narendra Modiji left masses to wonder in awe and applause thus, took the much-anticipated decision of a complete lockdown for 3 weeks i.e. till 14th April’20 on the evening of 23rd March for. In a flashback, four years back, Modiji booked the same time slot to give everyone the news of demonetization and a few days back, the same turbulent tides hit the shore, leaving the public left with no option but to gobble up as much as they can before the lockdown game begins.
Preceding events around the country prior to the big announcement
On 23rd March 2020, India had been in the world headlines for pressing for much such as Janta Curfew ( the movement initiated by Shri. Narendra Modi for appealing to masses to stay inbound and applaud the doctors, nurses, police, government agencies engaged in this war footing drive). Preceding movements included all together stoppage on traveling via train, domestic and international flights, interstate buses and many eminent states imposing lockdown with Rajasthan being the very first to impose it till 31st March. All the state governments’ heads constantly gave interviews informing the people about the outcomes for not the following lockdown in respective regions and its repercussions on an individual as well as social level. Nonetheless, thanks to media channels, social networking sites that have been playing a perfect guide in negotiating all queries, motivated people, coupled with interviews of renowned medical practitioners, state authorities officials, leaders who have been a day in and day out asking people to not venture out for unnecessary reasons.
The breakthrough media speech by Modiji
Consequently, as the clock struck the 8 pm chord, PM Shri. Narendra Modi addressed the people again in back to back 2 days. The speech was based on two terminologies – Social Distancing and Lockdown. He emphasized upon the urge to stay inbound and break this chain as 1 person is potent enough to infect 2.5 persons at a time and thus, more than 1000 in a week and thus, enlarging the chain. He thanked the people of India for the successful Janta Curfew and once again applauded the efforts of medical support staff, government agencies and every person who had put a strong foot in this initiating activity. With a sudden change of tone after appreciation and stern voice, Modiji made the announcement for a complete lockdown of India for 21 days with effect from 24th March 00:00 hrs till 14th April, hours after the Tokyo Olympics Committee decided to postpone the event for next year. PM also open gates for disbursement of Rs 15,000 crore as the financial aid but urged the people that after rigorous, comparative studies of USA, China, Italy, Spain, Iran, and other affected countries, it had been concluded that Lockdown/ social distancing (not just for infected persons but everyone) is the only solution in this dreadful time. Aligning to the financial side, he informed that if not controlled at this stage, then, India will fall back by 21 years in every zone of development.
Panic, Chaos and lose of values
However, as the news telecasted from the desk of PM, crowds took a U-turn thus, flocking to the supermarkets, wholesale markets and making it lively again with faces of panic, taking everything at the site and ballooning away values of first come, first serve rule. This wave of lockdown looked like a shutdown of e-commerce websites offering huge discounts during festive seasons, products vanishing away in minutes. The scenes of swarming away markets seemed to defeat the whole purpose of social distancing and seemed equivalent to students leaving questions of the last page due to the incessant rush of insecurity and sole objective of stocking for this quarantine period. Modiji’s next statement elaborated upon the plans of central and state governments of supplying all the ration supplies in an extensive and affordable manner to 1.3 billion people.
Shutting down queries with logical reasoning from ICMR, WHO
Nevertheless, this 4-hour drill just depicted one thing that, everyone is in fear and to counter this fear is one prime responsibility of ICMR and WHO to continuously thread posts and stats in support of lockdown. Prior to the lockdown announcement, WHO director Dr. Micheal J Ryan stated that like China, India stands a high risk of receiving ends of this pandemic with greater mortality rates, sighting the scenario. However, he also stated that India is having the capacity to control this pandemic, just like in the past it had evaded the two silent killers – Smallpox and Polio with public interventions. As per the ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research), effective implementation and strict implementation by the center will lead to a reduction in cases of Indian COVID-19 patients by 62% and by 89% in peak cases thus, flattening curve and providing time to authorities to treat and trace for patients. In the end, this lockdown is not permanent and just the necessity of the hour which everyone from any section of the country should respect and help by being a hero by staying inbound.
