IN a bid to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday announced a “countrywide lockdown” for 21 days, beginning yesterday.

He urged his countrymen to stay inside their homes and not take the risk of venturing out.

“Coronavirus spreads very fast. If we don’t take it seriously now, it can pose a serious threat in the near future to our country. If we don’t follow countrywide lockdown for the next 21 days, our country can be gripped by coronavirus and pushed back by 21 years,” warned Modi in a televised address to the nation.

This was Modi’s second address to countrymen in less than a week. Earlier, he had addressed the nation on March 19.

“Isolation is the only way to break the coronavirus cycle, and protect against it. Social distancing is must,” said Modi, and added that people in some countries which were in the grip of coronavirus strictly followed the directions from their respective government and stayed inside their homes. (Xinhua)