This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-52024239
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Coronavirus: India to enter 'total lockdown' after spike in cases | Coronavirus: India to enter 'total lockdown' after spike in cases |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| India is to impose a nationwide lockdown in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced. | India is to impose a nationwide lockdown in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced. |
| The restrictions will apply from midnight local time (18:30 GMT) and will be enforced for 21 days. | The restrictions will apply from midnight local time (18:30 GMT) and will be enforced for 21 days. |
| "There will be a total ban on venturing out of your homes," Mr Modi said in a televised address. | "There will be a total ban on venturing out of your homes," Mr Modi said in a televised address. |
| India - which has a population of 1.3bn - joins a growing list of countries that have imposed similar measures. | India - which has a population of 1.3bn - joins a growing list of countries that have imposed similar measures. |
| Nearly 400,000 people have tested positive for the virus worldwide, and around 17,000 have died. | Nearly 400,000 people have tested positive for the virus worldwide, and around 17,000 have died. |
| The new measures follow a sharp increase in cases in recent days. There have been 519 confirmed cases in India and 10 reported deaths. | The new measures follow a sharp increase in cases in recent days. There have been 519 confirmed cases in India and 10 reported deaths. |
| "The entire country will be in lockdown, total lockdown," Mr Modi said on Tuesday. | "The entire country will be in lockdown, total lockdown," Mr Modi said on Tuesday. |
| He added: "To save India, to save its every citizen, you, your family... every street, every neighbourhood is being put under lockdown." | He added: "To save India, to save its every citizen, you, your family... every street, every neighbourhood is being put under lockdown." |
| Mr Modi warned that if India does not "handle these 21 days well, then our country... will go backwards by 21 years." | Mr Modi warned that if India does not "handle these 21 days well, then our country... will go backwards by 21 years." |
| "This is a curfew," he said. "We will have to pay the economic cost of this but [it] is the responsibility of everyone." | "This is a curfew," he said. "We will have to pay the economic cost of this but [it] is the responsibility of everyone." |
| Under the new measures, all non-essential businesses will be closed but hospitals and other medical facilities will continue to function as normal. | |
| Schools and universities will remain shut and almost all public gatherings will be banned. | |
| In his address, Prime Minister Modi also: | |
| His announcement came after several Indian states introduced measures of their own, such as travel restrictions and the closure of non-essential services. | |
| India has already issued a ban on international arrivals and grounded domestic flights. The country's rail network has also suspended most passenger services. | India has already issued a ban on international arrivals and grounded domestic flights. The country's rail network has also suspended most passenger services. |
| Many parts of India, including cities such as Delhi and Mumbai, are already under tight restrictions. But this move extends those provisions to every corner of the country. | Many parts of India, including cities such as Delhi and Mumbai, are already under tight restrictions. But this move extends those provisions to every corner of the country. |
| An earlier one-day curfew, which was seen as a trial, was flouted by many. | An earlier one-day curfew, which was seen as a trial, was flouted by many. |
| Mr Modi called on Indians to clap and cheer the emergency services from their balconies on Sunday. But many misunderstood the call and congregated in the streets as they danced and chanted. | Mr Modi called on Indians to clap and cheer the emergency services from their balconies on Sunday. But many misunderstood the call and congregated in the streets as they danced and chanted. |
| "It's impossible to fathom the cost that India may have to pay if such irresponsible behaviour continues," Mr Modi warned at the time. "Social distancing is the only option to combat coronavirus." | "It's impossible to fathom the cost that India may have to pay if such irresponsible behaviour continues," Mr Modi warned at the time. "Social distancing is the only option to combat coronavirus." |
| The implications of a total lockdown in India are huge, not just economically, but socially. | The implications of a total lockdown in India are huge, not just economically, but socially. |
| This is a nation where community is everything. Going to worship at a temple, mosque or church is an essential part of daily life for so many. | This is a nation where community is everything. Going to worship at a temple, mosque or church is an essential part of daily life for so many. |
| This is a seismic cultural shift but - like the rest of the world facing similar restrictions - a necessary one. | This is a seismic cultural shift but - like the rest of the world facing similar restrictions - a necessary one. |
| What's the latest from around Asia? | What's the latest from around Asia? |
| And what about the rest of the world? |